Ibobi ministry expanded with eight Ministers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 28 2012: Along with the swearing in of eight Ministers today portfolios to be held by them have also been officially declared this evening.

The keenly awaited post of Deputy Chief Minister was, however, kept in abeyance with the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh insisting that the second highest post would automatically take shape according to necessity.

The prolonged vacuum in the Congress ministry finally culminated with the formal induction of the eight old and fresh faces out of 42 Congress legislators elected to the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly.

The CM calling on the Governor Gurbachan Jagat at 11 am today preceded the official swearing in ceremony of the eight Ministers at the Durbar hall of the Raj Bhavan at 4 pm.

While six of the Ministers had already been members of the assembly in the previous or past terms, Patsoi AC MLA Km AK Mirabai and Lilong AC legislator Md Abdul Nasir would be Ministers on their debut.

The eight new Ministers before their oath taking ceremony by the Governor Gurbachan Jagat at the Raj Bhavan durbar Hall.

In a slight twist to the report carried in this daily about the list of Ministers likely to be enlisted for the swearing in ceremony, Dr Kh Ratan Kumar of Mayang imphal AC replaced Ksh Biren of Lamlai AC.

Apart from Department of Personnel, Finance, Power, MAHUD, Minor Irrigation, Science & Technology and Tourism departments already held by the Chief Minister, portfolios not allocated to the 11 Ministers, continue to remain with the CM.

According to information received here, former speaker and Singjamei AC MLA I Hemochandra will be the Minister of PHE and Labour & Employment with the keenly watched Works portfolio going to Dr Kh Ratan Kumar along with the Transport Department.

New faces AK Mirabai and Md Abdul Nasir have been entrusted with the Social Welfare and Cooperation, and Agriculture and Fisheries portfolios respectively.

Out of two hill district representatives inducted in the O ibobi Singh Ministry today Francis Ngajokpa of Tadubi AC has been allocated Rural Development & Panchayati Raj along with Economics and Statistics departments while Irrigation and Flood Control along with Printing and Stationery would be the prerogative of Saitu AC MLA Ngamthang Haokip.

Commerce & Industries, Sericulture and Veterinary & Animal Husbandry would be the concern of Bishnupur AC MLA Govindas Konthoujam while Heirok AC representative M Okendro Singh will be in charge of Education and Consumer Affairs, food & Public Distribution departments.

It may be mentioned that the first phase expansion had seen the induction of Nungba AC MLA Gaikhangam, Jiribam's Th Debendra Singh and Churachandpur AC MLA Phungzathang.

Gaikhangam is the Minister of Home, Horticulture & Soil Conservation, and Tribal Affairs and Hills while Debendra holds the portfolios of Revenue, Law & Legislative Affairs and Forests & Environment.

Phungzathang had been assigned the tasks of Health & Family Welfare, General Administrative Department, and Common Area Development Authority.

during the oath of office and secrecy administered by the Governor to the eight new Ministers, Dr Ratan Kumar and AK Mirabai avowed in Manipuri while the remaining six took the vow in English.

Interacting with the newspersons after the swearing in ceremony, Chief Minister O Ibobi said the post of Deputy CM will remain vacant till a suitable situation demands appointment of the incumbent.

Even though the expansion effected today had no representation from Ukhrul and Chandel districts, the CM maintained that the portfolio allocation was based on community and district delegacy with equal consideration on accommodating minorities and women representatives.

Regretting that a number of Ministers who performed appreciably well in the previous term had to be dropped from the present ministry, he also explained that providing opportunity to the new incumbent was one of the factors for the ministry composition.

To apparently calm frayed nerves among some senior MLAs, the CM announced that process is on for appointing Parliamentary Secretaries.

The CM also affirmed that top priority of his third term in office would be on improving the power supply situation, adequate provision of drinking water, road and bridge development and improvement of the law and order situation.

The swearing in ceremony was also attended by former Ministers K Ranjit and TN Haokip.