Imphal, December 27 2010: A reshuffle of portfolios of the ministers in the ruling Secular Progress Front (SPF) government is likely to come up in January, 2011 after four years of its second term.

A highly reliable source hinted that the reshuffle could take place within the month of January disclosing that there is a plan in the SPF government for re-allocation of portfolios of the ministers.

The reshuffle of portfolios of ministers for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD), Education, Social Welfare, Veterinary, Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Power, Information, Public Relations, etc.

are very likely, the source disclosed adding that the mode of reshuffle has already been chalked out within the SPF.

There is the possibility of dropping some ministers for induction of new faces the source said recalling the Chief Minister's warning of dropping ministers with poor performances and inducting new MLAs as ministers.

Apart from this, there have been instances where the Chief Minister had given assurances to some MLAs of being inducted as ministers.

These MLAs have been strongly pressurising the Chief Minister to translate the assurances into work with the general election of the state Assembly getting nearer.

The election to the state Assembly is slated in early 2012 .

If the reshuffle is effected, ministers who were directly or indirectly involved in bribery scams, or were involved in other issues which surfaced from time to time are likely to be the once affected.

Among others, MLA Bijoy Koijam and Deputy Speaker Th Lokeshwor are forerunners in getting inducted in the council of ministers, the source maintained.

Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh, had faced strong internal revolts at least two times during his present tenure, the latest one being in the last part of 2009.He had been able to successfully tackle with all dissensions but sources said that promises he had made while subsiding the crises are yet to be translated in work.

It may be recalled that on one occasion in March this year, Ibobi had admitted that reshuffling his council of Ministers was a difficult task but had hinted that if necessary a reshuffling will be done.

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