Imphal, January 14: Even as Chief Minister O Ibobi left for New Delhi today after being summoned by AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, a well placed source informed The Sangai Express that the Ministry size reduction, which has been necessitated with the passing of the 91st Amendment Bill (Anti-defection law), may be effected after the Lok Sabha elections, if the election is held in April.

The size of the SPF Ministry will then shrink to only 12 from its present 32.Chief Minister O Ibobi left for New Delhi today after a message was received from New Delhi that Sonia Gandhi would be convening a meeting of all Congress Chief Ministers.

The meeting is likely to minutely discuss the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, said the source.

Before he left for New Delhi, the Chief Minister held a meeting with all senior Congress Ministers today, informed the source further.

The Ministry size may be reduced taking into consideration factors such as district wise representation in the Ministry, said the source adding that due consideration will also be given to the wishes and desires of the other coalition partner, the CPI.

Ministers may be dropped or inducted on rotational basis, said the source adding that the dropped Ministers may be accommodated as Chairman of Departments or corporations.

The Ministers who may hold on to their posts after the Ministry reduction comes into force include Chief Minister O Ibobi (Thoubal dist), Co-operation Minister Abdul Salam (Thoubal), Commerce and Industries Minister Th Debendra (Imphal East), FCS Minister Ph Parijat (Imphal East), YAS Minister A Aza (Ukhrul), Social Welfare Minister DK Korungthang (Chandel), Works Minister Gaikhangam (Tamenglong), GAD Minister Francis Ngajokpa (Senapati), Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing (Churachandpur), PHED Minister K Govindas (Bishnupur), and Law and MAHUD Minister L Nandakumar (Imphal West).

The 12th spot may be a toss up between Family Welfare Minister Bijoy Koijam (Imphal East) and Health Minister Dr Chaltonlien Amo (Churachandpur).

The source however said that nothing is definite as yet and this should not be read as the final list.

As Chief Minister O Ibobi is from Thoubal district, other MLAs from this district may not be included in the Ministry when it is reduced, said the source further.

Art and Culture Minister Dr M Nara of the CPI may also just make it to the final list, informed the source.

A senior Minister in the SPF Government however said that no one knows who will get the sack or who will be retained as it is the sole prerogative of the Chief Minister.

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