Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 02:
Ending days of speculations and hectic back room manoeuvring, the much awaited and anticipated allocation of portfolios to the 12 member Council of Ministers as well as the minor reshuffle hinted earlier by the Chief Minister was effected today.
Adding drama to allocation of the portfolios to the six newly inducted Ministers was the failure of the Chief Minister to do the same within June 30.The CM had earlier informed media persons that the portfolio allocation of the six Ministers as well as a minor reshuffle would be effected positively within the month of June during the last ministry expansion held on June 27.Putting to rest that the Chief Minister was hard pressed to hand over the Home portfolio to a senior Congress Minister, Ibobi retained the crucial portfolio as well as Finance, which he had held since the last Assembly.
GAD, DP and MAHUD are also under the Chief Minister as well as departments not allotted to other Ministers.
The FCS portfolio which has been in the lime light for all the wrong reasons during the last few years has been divested from Th Debendra and handed over to Y Erabot.
The other portfolios allotted to Y Erabot include Commerce and Industries and Co-operation.
Among the six Ministers inducted in the latest expansion, Sugnu MLA K Ranjit has bagged the prestigious PWD portfolio.
He will also be in charge of Printing and Stationery.
Education Department which has been mired in one controversy or the other during the last one year has been given to Keishamthong AC MLA, L Jayentakumar.
Transport which was hitherto under senior Congress leader Phungzathang Tonsing has been allotted to Jayenta.
Sericulture has also been allotted to the MLA from Keishamthong AC.
Agriculture and Minor Irrigation which were under CPI veteran Ph Parijat has been transferred to N Loken from Nambol AC along with Social Welfare.
Former Editor of a vernacular daily and a footballer of repute during his days, N Biren of Heingang Assembly Constituency has been allotted Youth Affairs and Sports as well as IFCD which was earlier held by Phungzathang Tonsing.
Elected from Karong Assembly Constituency DD Thaisii has been given Tribal Development which was earlier held by Phungzathang Tonsing.
Thaisii will also be in charge of District Councils and Hills and Veterinary and Animal Husbandry.
After divesting FCS, Th Debendra has been given the portfolios of Revenue, Forest and Environment and Law and Legislative Affairs.
As for Ph Parijat all the earlier portfolios held by him, save for CADA, have been divested and he has been allotted Health and Family Welfare and Labour.
Gaikhangam held the Health and Family Welfare portfolio before he resigned from the Council of Ministers.
All the earlier portfolios held by Phungzathang Tonsing have been divested and instead he has been allotted Power, Horticulture and Science and Technology.
Md Allauddin Khan from Keirao will continue to hold the portfolios of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in addition to MOBC and Fisheries.
The portfolios divested from him in place of Fisheries are Veterinary and Animal Husbandry and Science and Technology.
Former journalist and elected from Saikot Assembly Constituency of Churachandpur district, TN Haokip will continue to hold the portfolios of PHED and Information and Public Relations in addition to Tourism.
The new portfolios of the Council of Ministers were officially announced after the Chief Minister O Ibobi met the Governor at Raj Bhawan and relayed the message to him, said a source and added that the allocation of the portfolios was worked out after minute discussions.




