Imphal, September 14: With the appointment of a new MPCC chief, CLP leader and Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, former party president and IFC Minister Phungzathang Tonsing along with the newly appointed MPCC (I) president Gaikhangam are likely to fly to Delhi very soon to discuss the impending reshuffle of the SPF Ministry and election of new office bearers of the State unit party with the party high command.

The re-shuffling of the SPF Ministry would not be done district-wise but on community basis and so senior Ministers like Th Devendra and Phungzathang Tonsing would be out of the purview of the re-shuffling, according to a reliable source from within CLP.

Three/four Ministers whose performances are not satisfactory are likely to be dropped from the Ministry and their places may be occupied from amongst the MLAs who were dropped in the down sizing exercise, the source said, adding that discussions are on in this regard.

According to a reliable source, the names of Agriculture Minister Ph Parijat, Health Minister L Nandakumar, Social Welfare Minister W Leima Devi were among those who are likely to be dropped.

CPI being a partner of the SPF Government, the party will be accorded due consideration.

Accordingly a letter has been send to CPI State secretary for recommending another party MLA for to replace Parijat in the Council of Ministers, the source disclosed.

However, when contacted, CPI State secretary B Sharma denied having received any intimation either from the Chief Minister or from the side of the Congress party in this regard till date.

Another contentious issue that is likely to stand in the Ministry re-shuffling is whether Speaker TN Haokip should be inducted in the Council of Ministers or not and if so who should take over his post, the source said.

Talks are doing the round within the CLP over this issue, the source said.

Since the strength of the Council of Ministers cannot exceed 12 and representation is based community wise, there cannot be two Kuki Ministers and one of them has to be dropped if Speaker TN Haokip is to be inducted, the source pointed.

However, one Kuki Minister has already started lobbying for continuation of TN Haokip as the Speaker, the source disclosed while informing that the problem and implication of appointing a new Speaker is being seriously considered.

The source further said that some of the MLAs who did not get Ministerial berths are also trying to project themselves as the next possible Speaker if TN Haokip is inducted the Council of Ministers.

The source named RK Thekho, Dr Chaltolien Amo and K Ranjit among the hopeful MLAs.

With the next general election round the corner, AICC does not want any internal fissure within the CLP and has started taking serious note of the activities of some Ministers and MLAs who are trying to create problems, the source said, adding that the same is being recorded in their ACR.

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