Chief Minister Ibobi returns to Imphal
Gaikhangam, Erabot still in New Delhi
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 22 2012: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who has been in Delhi since April 15 to attend the Internal Security meeting as well as to discuss issues related to pending Ministry expansion of his Congress Government, returned to Imphal today.

It is said that no Congress MLAs have called on the Chief Minister after his arrival from Delhi.

On the other hand, Home Minister Gaikhangam, who is also the President of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) and MLA Yumkham Erabot who rushed to Delhi yesterday in connection with expansion of the Ministry, are expected to arrive here tomorrow.

Speaking to Hueiyen Lanpao in this regard on condition of anonymity, a Congress MLA said that almost all the party MLAs decided to leave the Chief Minister alone for some time and make him choose any MLA of his choice to be Minister.

To visit the Chief Minister at this point of time would be looked upon as lobbying for Ministerial berth.

The MLA informed that even while the Chief Minister was in Delhi, none of the Congress MLAs, with exception to Home Minister Gaikhangam and Health & Family Welfare Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, visited him.

As such, no one is able to guess who would be inducted as Minister in the impending Ministry expansion.

Another Congress MLA, also on condition of anonymity, said that since the Congress President Sonia Gandhi and General Secretary of AICC, North East in-charge, Luizinho Faleiro have already discussed who would be inducted in the expansion of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh led Congress Ministry in Manipur.

So apart from the Chief Minister and Home Minister, no one has any clear or complete knowledge over the probable MLAs who are in the list to be given Ministerial posts.

The MLA further informed that since the State government would be observing the Khongjom Day tomorrow; there would be no swearing in ceremony.

However, there is high possibility of the Ministry expansion effecting either on April 26 or 27 .

According to another source, even though Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Home Minister Gaikhangam have not said anything over the names of Congress MLAs to be included in the Ministry expansion, there is high possibility of inducting two Congress MLAs from Thoubal apart from the Chief Minister himself.

Among them MLA K Ranjit, who has been a Cabinet Minister in the last two terms and MLA of Heirok A/C Moirangthem Oken are on the top.

Among the three MLAs in Imphal East district who are lobbying for Ministerial berths namely MLA N Biren of Heingang A/C; MLA Ksh Biren of Lamlai A/C and MLA Dr Ng Bijoy of Khurai A/C, only one of them is likely to be inducted, the source maintained, and added that as for Imphal West district, MLA I Hemochandra of Singjamei A/C and MLA Kh Ratan of Mayang Imphal A/C are the probable candidates to get Ministerial berths.

If the Congress High Command sided with the proposal of Gaikhangam, MLA Govindas Konthoujam is likely to be inducted as a Minister from Bishnupur A/C, however if they go by the demand of Chief Minister O Ibobi, MLA N Loken or MLA T Mangibabu would be inducted in the Ministry.

For Senapati district, MLA Francis Ngajokpa of Tadubi A/C or MLA Ngamthang Haokip of Saitu A/C would be made the Ministers from this district.

If at all the Congress High Command has to choose a Minister from Ukhrul, MLA Victor Keishing of Phungyar A/C or MLA A Preshow of Chingai A/C would be inducted, the source said, adding that MLA DK Korungthang is also likely to be inducted into the Ministry from Chandel district.

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