Expansion throws up inflated ministry, 33 ministers sworn in

IMPHAL, February 23: Not withstanding the repeated assurances by Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam that the Samata Party led People's Front ministry will be somewhere between a jumbo and small sized ministry, an inflated 33 member strong Council of Ministers was sworn in today at a glittering function at the Raj Bhawan. The effective strength of the ministry including the Chief Minister is now 34. Of the 33 sworn in today 24 are Cabinet Ministers while nine are MoS. The Cabinet Ministers are Haobam Bhuban (BJP), O Joy (MPP), M Hemanta (MSCP), Gangmumei Kamei (FPM), Kh Amutombi (SP), Nimaichand Luwang (SP), M Thorii (SP), H Borbabu (BJP), M Manihar (SP), N Nimai (SP), L Jonathan (SP), T Bira (MSCP), M Oken (SP), Haokholet Kip-en (SP), Md Allauddin (MSCP), Ksh Biren (MSCP), M Kunjo (MSCP), H Sanayaima (MSCP), S Bira (MSCP), Thangminlien Kipgen (MSCP), Songchinkhup (MSCP), S Rajen (MSCP), L Jayentakumar (SP) and Khashim Ruivah (FPM). The Ministers of State are L Kerani (SP), T Manga Vaiphei (SP), Kh Loken (JDS), A Biren (MSCP), K Ranjit (BJP), W Leima (Ind), Danny Shaiza (BJP), Kh Chandra (BJP) and Ngursanglur (NCP). Being the biggest party in the House MSCP took the lion's share of the Cabinet berth with ten followed by Samata Party with nine. FPM and BJP has two each while NMP has one. Among the MoS, BJP led the table with three followed by Samata party with two and MSCP (1), JD (S) (1), Ind (1) and NCP(l). The oath of office and secrecy was administered to the newly inducted Ministers by Governor Ved Marwah. Like Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam some Ministers took the oath of office and secrecy in Manipuri. Seven of the 28 MLAs who had been camping at the Speaker's bungalow during the Opposition move to unseat the UF regime were not included in the ministry expansion today. They are BJP legislature wing leader RK Dorendro, NCP MLA Chungkhosei Doungel, Hangkhanpao, Mangaibou, Onjamang, Chungkhosei and L Jatra. Earlier there was a tacit understanding among the coalition partners that all the 28 MLAs would be sworn in together. Two members of the FPM which is supporting the PF Government from outside were inducted into the Council of Ministers today including its president Gangmumei Kamei. The lone independent MLA, W Leima who is also lending outside support was sworn in today as MoS. Three members of the eight MSCP MLAs who were declared unattached by the Speaker on February 13 were also inducted into the ministry. They are, Ksh Biren, S Rajen and M Kunjo. Union MoS for Food Processing T Chaoba, Speaker Dhananjoy, Semata Party president Jaya Jaitley, Samata Party general secretary Shambhu Srivastava, BJP Northeast Border Area States Secretary PB Acharya, former Chief Minister W Nipamacha, CPI State Secretary Ph Parijat and other top ranking civil and police officers were present at the swearing in ceremony. However the lone Opposition Congress A Rishang Keishing and BJP legislature wing leader RK Dorendro were conspicuously absent. Even as the swearing in ceremony was on at the Raj Bhawan, traffic was held up at several points. Traffic jam was reported from Keishampat, BT road, Kanglapat, Wahengbam Leikai, Paona Bazar etc.