Imphal, June 23: Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi and Congress MP Dr Thokchom Meinya rushed to New Delhi this afternoon following a call from AICC chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohon Singh to discuss the downsizing of secular progressive front (SPF) government of Manipur.

Speaking just before leaving Imphal Dr T Meinya said Ibobi and himself was hurried to New Delhi to discuss the SPF ministry downsizing with party high command and Prime Minister.

He hoped that there will be no problem among the ministers while the downsizing is come into effect as the party (AICC) has already chalk out a formula in this regard.

Ibobi and himself will urge Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohon not to mow down at the pressure from any quarter in the process of downsizing.

According to Anti-defection law (91st Amendment), the ministry size of 60 members Manipur Legislative Assembly must reduce to 12 by July 7.There are 33 ministers at present in the Congress-led SPF government.

Meinya further said the main agenda during the discussion with Sonia Gandhi and Manmohon will be whether there will be provision of having minister of state or not after downsizing, dropping of 'tainted' ministers during the downsizing and whether senior ministers will retain the ministerial berth or not.

Evading a direct reply Meinya said the basis of choosing ministers will be primarily on the capability and efficiency of the member as most of the ministers may held two or more portfolios, he said.

Highly placed sources in the meantime said chief minister O Ibobi Singh is in a precarious situation following intense lobbying by junior ministers to retain them in the SPF council of minister when the down sizing policy come 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 the senior cabinet ministers expressing strong opposition to the junior's gesture.

The source further said of the 12 ministers 10 will go in favour of Congress while SPF partner CPI and Manipur State Congress Party will get one berth each.

At the present circumstances, Ibobi is expected to carry on with the cabinet-in-charge system, which was constituted district wise.

Manipur has eight districts.

It is speculated that a clear picture may come after Ibobi's arrival in Imphal in few days time.

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