The new government and the road ahead
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: March 14, 2012 -

After the ever 'quietest' five-day long Yaoshang festivities, which though could not divert the mind of the people from prevailing political situation, Manipur is back on the tract again.

Of the five Indian states which went to polls over a period of one month, Manohar Parrikar has already been sworn in as the Chief Minister of new BJP-MGP coalition Government alliance in Goa and it is set for tabling its first budget on March 21 and Congress MP Vijay Bahuguna has been made the new Chief Minister of Uttarakhand despite revolt from some party colleagues and supporters.

In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister-designate and leader of Samajwadi Party Akhilesh Yadav is set to be sworn in as the new Chief Minister on March 15.

Similarly in Punjab, decks have been cleared for the swearing in ceremony of Parkash Singh Badal, who will hold the office of Chief Minister for the record fifth time, tomorrow.

That leaves Manipur, where the Congress swept the polls with an unprecedented victory of winning 42 seats in the 60-member House.

Considering this stupendous performance of the party despite suffering set back in other states, the ascend of O Ibobi Singh to the throne of Chief Minister of Manipur for the third term consecutive term should have been a smooth sailing one and come sooner than expected.

Nonetheless, at long last, paving way for the record third term of the Congress led Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government in Manipur, infighting over the post of leader of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) is said to have been resolved with 'unanimous' decision of electing Ibobi as the CLP leader.

With no other group anywhere in the picture and Ibobi staking claim to form the new government, the stage as been set for swearing in of the Chief Minister of Manipur tomorrow afternoon.

With appointment of Laishram Nandakumar, the senior most MLA elect in the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly, as the Speaker Pro Tem, earlier yesterday, to administer oath of office and secrecy to the newly elected members, the Governor has declared Ibobi to be the new Chief Minister and asked him to submit the list of his new Council of Ministers.

As the man from Thoubal district is all set to be anointed as the Chief Minister of Manipur for the third consecutive term, we can't help but amused over the tumultuous road ahead he may have to traverse along this time in choosing his 12 wisemen.

It has been normally seen that in a government of absolute majority, the push and pull factor among the members who are left out of the 'league' is normally so strong that it become a bane in the stability of that government.

This is a move everyone within and outside the government would be watching out in the days to become. But as they say, 'uneasy lies the head that wears a crown', perhaps, Ibobi knows this better than anyone else.