Imphal, April 16: Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, on a roller-coaster ride to keep his flock together, has sought to dispel fears among his loyalists about a possible change of leadership. Ibobi Singh announced that there was no threat to the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) ministry in the state.
“There is no threat to the present government. The constituents of the coalition remain united as ever. The move by the Opposition to pull down the SPF government will not bear any fruit,” the chief minister told The Telegraph today.
Ibobi Singh’s claim that he was firmly on the saddle is an attempt to pre-empt any move by the ruling legislators to hobnob with the Opposition Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA), led by the BJP, which has launched a campaign to oust him. There are reports that some disgruntled elements within the Congress are exploring ways to change the leadership.
That all is not well within the SPF came out in the open when Ibobi Singh admitted that his measures to improve the financial health of the state had “antagonised” some of the senior ministers. “I have become very unpopular within the council of ministers after I issued strict directions to all the ministers that the funds released should be utilised properly and that the utilisation certificate should be sent to the Centre on time,” he said.
Ibobi Singh, however, added that the resentment would not develop into an open revolt. “There is no question of revolt by any minister or MLA. I have explained to them the need to take some harsh measures to cope with the financial problem and they are now convinced,” the chief minister claimed.
Ibobi Singh also denied reports in the local media about differences between him and Rajya Sabha MP, Rishang Keishing, a former chief minister. “He is one the seniormost Congress leaders in the state and from time to time he made suggestions to improve the functioning of the government. I have maintained a good relationship with him,” he claimed.
But Rishang Keishing, who is reportedly unhappy with Ibobi Singh’s style of functioning, refused to give a clean chit to the chief minister when asked to comment on the performance of the SPF government after the completion of one year in office last month. “The situation in Manipur has become very complicated and even Ibobi Singh will not be able to solve all these problems,” Keishing had said.