Imphal, April 21 2010: Chief Minister, O Ibobi today met Governor Gurbachan Jagat for about half an hour at the Raj Bhavan here apparently in connection with the present issues lying in front of the state government.

A highly reliable source said that during the meeting that started at about 3.30 pm, the Chief Minister briefed the Governor on the prevailing situation in the state in the wake of the twin issues–objection to the proposed election to the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) and the over three-month-old ceasework strike of the employees who are demanding the revised sixth pay bands in toto.

The Chief Minister briefed the Governor on the action taken report of the government with regard to the twin issues, said the source.

However, details of the briefing to the Governor could not be received.

It is believed that theGovernor might have sought reports from Chief Minister Ibobi as regards the cabinet's stand on the ongoing ceasework strike by the employees of the government.

The Governor, it may be recalled, had given assurance to the representatives of the JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO that he would try to break the ice between the government and the striking employees as early as possible.

The source said, the Chief Minister might have informed the Governor that the state government has already formed a Committee of Ministers to look into the feasibility of granting the demand for full arrears of the employees.

Mention may be made that a Committee of Ministers headed by Th Debendra has been constituted to look into the demand of the employees compared to the funds to be received by the government from the 13th Finance Commission.

On the other hand, the Cabinet meeting which was scheduled to hold today postponed with the best reason known to the government only till 2 pm of tomorrow.

Main agendas of the cabinet meeting would be ADC election and employees strike, source maintained.

Mention may be made that objections against holding of elections to the ADCs under the existing ADC Act, 2008 has reached to a crucial stage when hill based pressure groups mostly Naga based bodies started pressing the 20 MLAs of the Manipur Assembly from hills who are the members of Hill Areas Committee of the Assembly tender resignations.

All the 20 MLAs have reportedly got the pressure from civil organisations objecting the ADC election to tender resignations on moral ground as government remaining stick to the stance without saying any words on the demand amendment of the Manipur (Hill) Area Autonomous District Council Act.

Some hill MLAs are holding meetings today reportedly at an official quarter of an MLA and discussed on the pressure exerted on them and to take their own decision in this regard.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary, DS Poonia has also convened a meeting of the principal secretaries and discus on the cease work strike of the employees and state present financial status and would be after the implementation of the sixth pay bands of the Centre.

On the other hand, with more bodies of employees including important and essential service departments are joining the cease work strike.

Among others, employees of Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Public Health Engineering Department, Public Works Department, Irrigation and Flood Control Department etc.

had joined the cease work strike.

Drivers of various departments under the banner of the All Manipur Government Drivers and Technical Welfare Association have also resolved to join the cease-work strike from tomorrow.

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