PDA for Ranjit, MANITRON for Bijoy planning Board for Amo, Khadi Board for Aza
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 06:
Barely 24 hours after Chief Minister O Ibobi announced the list of Ministers to be retained in the 12 member Ministry, the first among equals has started working out political appointments formula to soothe frayed nerves and wounded egos by appointing some of the dropped Ministers as Chairpersons of a number of corporations.
Even as the political appointments of some of the dropped Ministers were issued today, sources said that the re-allocation of portfolios of the chosen 11 may be effected soon.
Implementing the political appointment arrangements, an order appointing Sugnu AC MLA and former Agriculture Minister K Ranjit as the Chairperson of PDA was issued today.
Similarly, Thongju AC MLA, and former Family Welfare Minister Bijoy Koijam has been appointed as the Chairperson of MANITRON.
To obviously placate the hurt sentiments of Ukhrul, A Aza, who was previously the YAS Minister, has been appointed as Chairman of the much sought after Khadi and Village Industries Chairman.
Former Health Minister and MLA from Tipaimukh AC, Dr Chaltonlien Amo has been appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board.
N Biren from Heingang AC will continue as the Chairman of the Manipur Pollution Control Board.
He held this post while he was the MoS (Independent charge) for Forest and Environment.
Former Social Welfare Minister DK Korungthang from Chandel AC has been accommodated as the Chairman of the Manipur Tribal Development Corporation while erstwhile School Education Minister Y Mani has been appointed as the Chairman of the Programme Implementation Committee.
At the moment, Imphal East has the maximum number of Ministers as well as the maximum number of politically appointed Chairpersons.
The members include Minister Th Debendra, Minister Ph Parijat, Minister Md Allaudin, Deputy Speaker L Lala and MANITRON Chairman Bijoy Koijam.
MLAs from Churachandpur have also been fairly accommodated by the SPF Ministry.
The MLAs include Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, Speaker TN Haokip, HAC Chairman Songchinkhup and Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board Dr Chaltonlien Amo.
Of the 39 MLAs in the SPF coalition Government, 17 are presently without any specific assignments including the two MSCP MLAs, Vivek Raj Wangkhem and Y Erabot, and some Ministers dropped earlier including C Doungel, Wungnaoshang Keishing and Radhakishore.
Sources said that the SPF Government is working over time to see how the dropped Ministers can be accommodated in one way or the other and more political appointment orders are in the offing.
An informal meeting of all the retained Ministers was held at the Chief Minister' residence today and steps to accommodate the dropped Ministers was taken up during the meeting, said sources.
A meeting of the SPF Legislature Wing will be held tomorrow at 8.30 am after which the Chief Minister will proceed to Delhi, informed sources.
The Chief Minister is expected to meet a number of AICC leaders including its president Sonia Gandhi and the Union Finance Minister.
The political situation in Manipur is likely to be minutely discussed during the meetings.
Reallocation of portfolios is likely to be effected on July 11 after the Chief Minister returns from Delhi, further said sources.
Even as the SPF Government has started the process of political appointments of the dropped Ministers, a member of the Opposition DPA said that they would not remain silent and see if anything can be done to disqualify the MLAs who have been political posts.




