Downsizing: Two ready, State groping

Imphal, June 25: Even as neighboring States like Nagaland and Meghalaya have worked out the model for the impending Ministry downsizing which will come into force from July 7, the Congress led SPF Government is still groping in the dark waiting for a nod at New Delhi from the AICC high command to the model worked out by the Steering Committee of the ruling Front. Chief Minister O Ibobi who left for New Delhi to meet AICC president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to get their approval to the model worked out here is yet to be granted an audience by the two most important persons in the Congress party. According to reports received from New Delhi, the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues are still to meet Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, though it is learnt that they managed to meet Oscar Fernandes yesterday. Veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing and Power Minister Phungza-thang Tonsing flew to Delhi today in connection with the downsizing move. A prominent member of the MPPC (I) informed The Sangai Express that the Ministers who are presently at New Delhi are lobbying with the AICC in connection with the impending Ministry downsizing. Even the Ministers who are still in Manipur are reported to have got in touch with their ‘friends’ in the AICC to be retained. In the face of the immense pressures exerted from different quarters, no official news have been forthcoming from New Delhi till date, said the source further. When The Sangai Express contacted Lok Sabha MP Dr T Meinya at New Delhi this evening, he said that since today was a working day efforts to meet Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister drew blank. He added that Chief Minister O Ibobi and his Cabinet colleagues may be granted an audience tomorrow by the AICC president and the Prime Minister. He informed that the downsizing may be effected on July 6.