Fernandes, Jaitley, Digvijay likely to witness ministry expansion ceremony

IMPHAL, February 20: The People's front ministry led by Radhabinod Koijam is likely to be expanded on coming Friday or latest by Saturday in the presence of Union Defence Minister George Fernandes, Samata Party General Secretary Mrs Jaya Jaitley and Union MoS Railway Digvijay Singh. The Chief Minister, presently at New Delhi heading a high power delegation of People's Front to discuss the expansion of ministry and other financial matters with the central leaders will arrive here tomorrow. This was announced by Samata Party MLA, Nimaichand Luwang at a crowded press conference held at the Chief Minister's residence at Thangmeiband this evening. Informing that the delegation has met both Defence Minister George Fernandes and Home Minister, LK Advani separately and held discussions on various issues once again today. Nimaichand stated that it was decided that the council of ministers will have 30 or more ministers. He also informed that the Union Finance Minister, Yashwant Sinha and the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, KC Pant have also given the assurance to sanction Rs 200 crore as special allocation to tide over the acute financial crisis the state was facing. Nimaichand Luwang told newsmen that the Chief Minister met Jaswant Sinha at 11.45 am today and urged the Union Finance Minister to release the said amount before Id-ul-juha and Yaoshang so that the pending salaries for the months of January and February and other pensions could be paid off. On the expansion of ministry, Nimaichand said, because of the ongoing budget session of the Parliament, the central leaders of the Samata Party cannot hasten their arrival here. However, they are planning to come to Imphal on Friday or Saturday, the days when there won't be parliament session. Defence Minister George Fernandes, Agriculture Minister Nitish Kumar, President of Samata Rarty Jaya Jaitley and MoS Railway Digvijay are likely to come here for the ministry expansion, he informed. Chief Minister, Radhabinod Koijam who could not meet the Prime Minister will pay a courtesy call to Atal Bihari Vajpayee this evening, Nimaichand further informed.