Ministerial berth: BJP in catch-22 situation
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 24 2022: After six MLAs took oath as ministers in the second term of the N Biren cabinet, BJP is facing a tough situation in the selection for filling up the remaining six ministerial berths amid mounting pressures and lobbying from different sides, especially from within the party and its ally NPF.

According to source, BJP MLAs are lobbying national leaders, chief minister and BJP state president for giving ministerial berths.

Moreover, supporters of several MLAs are mounting pressure on the party leaderships for offering ministerial berth to their respective MLAs with some even resorting to issuing stern warning of possible fallouts.

Regarding the modalities of distributing ministerial berth, Imphal East district already has chief minister N Biren and cabinet minister in Th Biswajit, which could raise question in case of appointing another MLA from the district to any of the ministerial berths.

Besides, speaker of the state legislative assembly is also from the constituency officially categorised under Imphal East district.

Despite this condition, reports suggest that one more MLA from the district is likely to get ministerial berth considering the fact that BJP won seven out of 10 seats from the district.

In Imphal West district, BJP won 10 out of 13 seats and former speaker Y Khemchand of Singjamei AC had already been sworn in as a minister.

The party won four out of six seats in Bishnupur district and Bishnupur MLA Govindas Konthoujam had been sworn in as minister.

Nemcha Kipgen from Kangpokpi district had also been sworn in as minister and she was also the lone BJP MLA from the district, which has three seats.

The two remaining seats from the district were won by an independent and a KPA member.

BJP did not win any of the two seats in Tamenglong district but NPF state president Awangbow Newmai had already been inducted as minister in the Biren cabinet.

NPF, which won five seats, is mounting pressure for giving at least two ministerial berths.

Senapati, Kamjong, Nungba, Ukhrul, Pherzawl, Churachandpur, Thoubal, Kakching, Jiribam, Chandel and Tengnoupal districts are yet to get any ministerial berth.

Out of them, BJP did not secure any seat in Ukhrul, Kamjong, Jiribam and Senapati districts.

BJP won the lone seat of Nungba, Tengnoupal and Chandel districts while the party won three out of six seats in Pherzawl and Churachandpur districts.

The party won two out of six seats in Thoubal district, and two out of four seats in Kakching district.

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