Reshuffling : Not a game of musical chair : Half time substitution ?
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: July 03 , 2014 -

To all those MLAs who have been clamouring or rather demanding that a reshuffle of the Council of Ministers be effected, a gentle reminder is in line here. Ministry reshuffling is not a game of musical chair. It not ‘Now it is my turn.’

One may say that Chief Minister O Ibobi is perhaps today facing the biggest challenge after the election to the 10th Assembly and this has come from within.

A case of too many Congress MLAs in the House of 60 and therefore not surprising but it goes without saying that the Chief Minister has to walk the tight rope and not upset the apple cart.

At the moment, the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam are in Delhi ostensibly to confabulate with the high command following the demand raised for a reshuffling of the Ministry.

Nothing wrong with this but on what premise will the Ministry be reshuffled, that is if is actuated, is a question that should be raised.

This question is important, for the composition of the Council of Ministers is not only an internal affair of the Congress party, but will have a direct impact on the people and the land and this is where The Sangai Express would like to differ with the observation of the Deputy Chief Minister, who had stated that it is a ‘family affair.’

No Sir, the composition of the Council of Ministers can never be an internal affair of the Congress party or whichever party is in power, for the competency or incompetency of the Ministers will impact on the life of the people.

So will it be a case of those who have mastered the art of cosying up to the power centres getting the positive nod or will it be otherwise ?

Running a Government is of course far removed from a game of football, but when the coach of a football team substitutes a player, it is all about the performance of the player who is being substituted.

Likewise if there is going to be a reshuffle in the Council of Minister, the yardstick should be performance and not, ‘You have had your stint, now is my turn.’

By all means the non-performing Ministers should be dropped and fresh ones should be inducted, but reshuffling for the sake of reshuffling without setting a benchmark would not do the Government and hence the people and the land any good.

The bottomline is, there is so much that an MLA can do. Can those MLAs who have raised the banner for a reshuffle sincerely say that they have dispensed with their duties as MLAs successfully ?

The people are not blind and if an MLA has just been warming his seat in the Assembly and playing favourites in his Constituency, then what is the guarantee that he or she would perform if inducted into the Council of Ministers ?

These are some of the points which the Chief Minister and the AICC high command should keep in mind if they decide that a Ministry reshuffle is necessary.

Unlike some of the other Congress Chief Ministers whose positions have become shaky after the dismal performance in the recent Lok Sabha election, O Ibobi is on firm ground.

In a nutshell he should speak or convey his message and ideas to the AICC from a position of strength.

Whether he will take this opportunity or let it slip by is something which only time will tell but the all important point should not be lost if the Congress party decides that there should be a reshuffle in the Ministry.

Induct the MLAs who have been performing as MLAs into the Council of Ministers and drop the Ministers who have abysmally failed to live up to the expectations of the people.

Any reshuffling of the Ministry should not be reduced to a half time substitution, but should be based on the performance and potential of the Ministers and MLAs. For those who have done well so far, retain them.

For those who have failed to deliver, drop them. This is the basic premise on which the reshuffling should be effected.