28-member council of ministers likely to be sworn in

IMPHAL, February 15: Following the swearing-in of Samata Party leader Radhabinod Koijam as the new Chief Minister of the state today, a 28 member council of ministers is likely to be sworn in tomorrow. According to reliable sources, a decision to this effect was taken during a meeting of the People's Front, PF, leadership held late this evening. According to the report, all the MLAs of the Samata Party will be getting ministerial berths. MLAs Nimaichand Luwang, N Nimai, Laishram Kerani, Mayengbam Manihar, L Jonathan, M Thohrii, and Haokholet Kipgen, are certain to get cabinet berths, the sources said, while the other four MLAs of the party are expected to get minister of state berths. It is also understood that five of the six MLAs of the Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, except for the former Chief Minister Rajkumar Dorendro Singh, are to be accommodated in the council of ministers. MLAs Haobam Bhubanl, Kangujam Ranjit and Haobam Borbabu Singh are expected to secure Cabinet berths while Danny Shaiza and Khwairakpam Chandra may get minister of state posts. The lone Manipur People's Party MLA, Okram Joy Singh, Janata Dal (Secular) MLA Khwairakpam Loken and Nationalist Congress Party MLA Chungkhokai Doungel are also expected to get ministerial berths. Seats have also reportedly been reserved in the council of ministers for all the eight MLAs of the Manipur State Congress Party, MSCP, who deserted the Wahengbam Nipamacha camp under the leadership of Moirangthem Hemanta Singh. Hemanta, Laishram Jatra, Hangkhanpao and Thounaojam Bira, will probably get Cabinet berths while the other four MLAs will be accommodated is ministers of state, according to the sources. It may be mentioned that several leaders of the parties constituting the People's Front failed to attend the swearing in ceremony of the Chief Minister this afternoon at Raj Bhavan apparently on account of disagreement on allocation of ministerial berths among the various parties.