Imphal, July 2: The ministers in the Okram Ibobi Singh cabinet are likely to quit en masse on Sunday to facilitate the chief minister to downsize his ministry. Ibobi Singh, who had been camping in New Delhi for the past week along with some of his senior ministerial colleagues to finalise the list, returned to Imphal this afternoon. The chief minister is said to have made the list final during his meeting with AICC president Sonia Gandhi.
At present, the strength of the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) ministry is 32, excluding the Speaker and the deputy Speaker. The new law requires Ibobi Singh to prune the ministry size to 12.
The SPF comprises the Congress, which heads the coalition, the CPI and the Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP).
A senior minister, who accompanied Ibobi Singh to Delhi, said all 31 ministers were likely to submit their resignation papers to the chief minister on Sunday. Sources said the chief minister would convene separate meetings of the SPF and the cabinet tomorrow to finalise his ministry.
He is also likely to submit the new list of 11 ministers to governor Arvind Dave either on Sunday or Monday.
The swearing-in is likely to be on Tuesday. The sources said Ibobi Singh is expected to retain some senior tribal and Congress ministers, who have the potential to trigger dissension within the party in the event of missing the bus.
The CPI, which has five members, has demanded two cabinet berths, vying also for the post of deputy Speaker. T.N. Haokip, current Speaker and L. Lala Singh, deputy Speaker, belong to the Congress.
The MSCP, which has two legislators, is also clamouring for at least one cabinet berth.