Ibobi to leave for Delhi with list of probable Ministers
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 02 2012:
To finalise expansion of Ministry, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh would be leaving for Delhi in the next few days.
According to a reliable source, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh would be taking along with him a list of probable Ministers and submit the same to the Congress High Command specially AICC President Sonia Gandhi for their final approval.
Who are the probable Ministers in the list is still a closely guarded secret even from the Congress MLAs and nothing could be said with certainty as of now whether AICC President Sonia Gandhi and other Central Congress leaders would give their consent to the list of probable Ministers.
Nonetheless, a clear picture on pending Ministry expansion is likely emerges from the proposed visit of the Chief Minister, the source added.
The source further said that whether all the remaining eight Ministerial berths would be filled up in the second phase of Ministry expansion or retained some seats too has not yet been clear.
In this regard, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh would probably act on the directive to be given by AICC.
The source hinted that the forthcoming Ministry expansion may or may not be quite contrary to the expectation of the people who are analyzing that there may be district-wise allotment of Ministerial berths or reservation of Ministerial posts for woman MLA and other minority communities.
Keeping their finger crossed over an earlier assurance given by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh that preference would be given to those who were not Ministers in the earlier two terms, the elected Congress MLAs are remaining quiet without saying anything and the Chief Minister knows the situation well.
However, there is no surety that all the newly elected Congress MLAs would be inducting in the Ministry.
It is hopeful that AICC would be acting after taking into serious consideration of the situation prevailing in the state, the source observed.
After Govenor Gurbachan Jagat returns to Imphal either on April 5 or 6, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh may be leaving for Delhi either on April 7 or 8, the source added.
On the other hand, some of the Congress MLAs, who are not happy with the leadership of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, have been secretly lobbying with the Congress High Command and the undercurrent political tension may explode at any time, another source disclosed.