Imphal, June 12: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh is reportedly in a precarious situation following intense lobbying by junior Ministers to retain them in the SPF Council of Minister when the down sizing policy comes into effect.

The junior Ministers are informed to have exerted tremendous pressure upon the CM to offer them the opportunity of Ministerships by placing the senior ones as advisors even though sources revealed of the senior Cabinet Ministers expressing strong opposition to the junior's gesture.

At the same time both the ruling and opposition MLAs have held meeting to demand for hike in the Local MLA Development Fund in view of the drastic reduction in the number of size of Ministry when the new stipulation is implemented.

The MLA's view point is based on the fact that they should be able to serve the people which will be impossible without additional allotment of fund or increased gratuity.

With the downsizing policy coming into effect from July seven after the Monsoon session is over O Ibobi is faced with a nightmarish situation on whom to drop from the Ministry and who are to be retained.

Exploiting the situation several ruling MLAs are also taking no chances to insure their place in the Ministry by calling on the CM whenever possible to air their respective cases.

Contention among the Council of Ministers is that priority should be given to selection of one representative of each of the nine districts with the remaining Ministry seats left to either the prerogative of the Chief or on community wise allocation of two each to Naga, Kuki and minority groups with one or two reserved for the CPI members.

Press sources also disclosed of hectic discussions among the Council of Ministers for strengthening the coalition Government through selection of MLAs who would be most able to live upto the expectation of the masses and sensibly deal with sensitive State issues as the new policy envisages allocation of a number of portfolios to a single Minister.

Despite various alternative measure reported to be contemplated in the SPF circle the junior Ministers are relentless in their persistence for berths when the Ministry size is trimmed.

SPF Govt partner CPI's Control Commission chairman M Ibohal remarked that the party is not worried of either being denied Ministerial berths or offered portfolios.

The CPI's sole concern is to assign the people's responsibility to person/s having uncompromising spirit, dedicated and determined to execute their respective tasks with most dedication for the betterment of society, mooted Ibohal.

Desiring corruption free members for inclusion in the Ministry, he said even if CPI is left out of the Council of Minister, like in the Centre the party could still extend outside support to ensure existence of a pious SPF Govt.Sources also informed that during the ruling and opposition MLAs meeting resolution was adopted to propose for hiking the Local MLA Development Fund from the present amount of Rs 15 lakh per year to Rs 50 lakhs, increase in MLA pension amount to Rs 10,000 from 4500, family pension from Rs 3000 to 6000, ex-gratia amount of MLA and ex-MLA to Rs 5 lakh and various other benefits.

Decision was also taken during the meeting to place the proposals to the Chief Minister and speaker, said the source.

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