Zomi Council seeks ministerial berth for MLA Valte
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 13 2022:
On behalf of the Zomi fraternity and its constituent nine tribes - Simte, Vaiphei, Sukte, Paite, Zou, Korn, Gangte, Mate and Thangkhal, the Zomi Council (ZC) appealed to chief minister N Biren for inducting Thanlon MLA Vungzagin Valte in the council of ministers in the interest of the public, and to ensure inclusive development of Manipur.
In a release, ZC chairman John K Ngaihte stated that it is conventionally practiced in ministry formation to balance area or regional composition and community dynamics of the state for a stable ministry.
In Manipur, Naga, Kuki and Zomi are the three larger tribal communities.
Ever since the number of cabinet members was fixed to 12 only, the community composition was normally, Meitei-8, Naga-2 and non-Naga-2 (1 Kuki & 1 Zomi).
In the present ministry, Nemcha Kipgen already represents Kuki community and the induction of Vungzagin Valte from Zomi community will ensure inclusiveness of BJP.
Balancing Naga, Kuki and Zomi community in ministry formation will greatly help in solving insurgency problems in the state, it noted.
Moreover, conventionally at least one cabinet ministerial berth from Churachandpur district has always been inducted in all previous ministries.
Of all MLAs from Churachandpur district, Vungzagin Valte is senior-most and the only MLA re-elected in the 12th Manipur assembly election.
Therefore, it will be prudent for the party leadership to add one Naga and one Zomi in the next cabinet expansion in order to maintain community and regional balance in the state.
This will also help in maintaining peaceful co-existence among various communities of the state, it elaborated.
ZC emphasised that maintaining community balance in the ministry formation is absolutely essential for carrying forward the inclusive and peaceful co-existence mission of BJP in the state.
MLA Vungzagin Valte has played key roles in the past and is not only a faithful BJP party worker, but also instrumental in creating a stable government in the previous term when there was serious infighting within the ministry.
If he is given the opportunity to continue as one of the cabinet ministers, his vast experiences will be a blessing for the party and the people of Manipur, it added.