Politics / Manipur

IMPHAL, February 18: The newly sworn in Chief Minister of Manipur, Radhabinod Koijam, accompanied by 13 other leaders of the state left for New Delhi today to hold consultations with Central leaders on the issue of expansion of the currently one-man People's Front ministry. The chief secretary, Rakesh has been given the responsibility of looking after the state administration by the Chief Minister during his absence, according to a reliable source. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Union Minister of state for food processing T Chaoba, Speaker S Dhananjoy, former Chief Minister RK Dorendro...

IMPHAL, February 18: In a major development in this insurgency-prone region, the newly-sworn-in Chief Minister of the People's Front Ministry, Radhabinod Koijam has said that his Cabinet will examine the feasibility of giving "safe passage" to the underground insurgents during the Yaoshang, the biggest festival in Manipur so as to enable them to take part in the great festival this time. Yaoshang festival will start from March 9 and it will continue for five days. While this special gesture of the new People's Front Ministry lasts, the various security forces and Manipur Police would likely be...

IMPHAL, February 16: In yet another twist to Manipur politics, the warring factions of the Manipur State Congress Party reunited, raising questions on the stability of newly-installed People's Front government led by Radhabinod Koijam. While Union minister of state for food processing Chaoba Singh masterminded the compromise formula in this political drama, Speaker Sapam Dhananjoy, also a leader of the MSCP, played an important role. The MSCP had split earlier, Chaoba Singh leading one faction and W. Nipamacha Singh the other. The patch-up was prompted by the Centre's instruction to limit the...

IMPHAL, February 16: While a new government has been installed in the state, the battle continued inside the Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) with a meeting of MSCP legislators held at 3 p.m. today at the residence of Speaker S Dhananjoy Singh unanimously resolving to reunite the party legislators even as the Nipamacha group of the MSCP resolved to expel the eight MLA s led by Hemanta who were at the camp of the People's Front. The meeting of MSCP legislators which was held at the residence of Speaker S Dhananjoy Singh was presided over by the party working president and union minister of...

IMPHAL, February 16: The newly, sworn-in Chief Minister, Radhabinod Koijam, in his first message to the people of Manipur, has declared that his government's first priorities would be to tackle the deteriorating law and order situation and the ongoing financial crisis, and to wipe out corruption. The new Chief Minister, in the first place, reiterated his government's commitment to bringing back peace in the state, acknowledging that the decades long problem of insurgency that the state had faced had retarded development, and frequent acts of violence had seriously disturbed public life. In...

GUWAHATI, February 15: The growing links of the militant outfits of the Northeast region with foreign countries is causing concern among the security forces engaged in the counter-insurgency operations. Police sources said that at present almost all the major militant outfits operating in the region have foreign links and their leaders very often take shelter in foreign countries to escape the security net. Sources revealed that the first recorded links between NE militants with foreign countries dated back to 1960s when the Naga militants established contacts in China. In fact, the Isak...

IMPHAL, February 15: The new Chief Minister of Manipur, Radhabinod Koijam, today said his top priority would be to usher in peace to the state and enforce financial discipline in the government. Talking to newsmen at the Raj Bhawan after he was sworn in as Chief Minister, Koijam said he did not believe in using force to solve the problem of militancy. After capturing the Chief Ministership by staging a major political coup, Koijam's biggest task is to improve the law and order situation and the state's economy. The Chief Minister said use of force can never end insurgency and added "only a...

IMPHAL, February 15: Home Minister LK Advani has instructed Radhabinod Koijam not go in for a jumbo sized ministry and to keep the ministry at its optimum level only in view of the acute financial crunch. Speaking to The Sangai Express this evening the newly sworn in Chief Minister said that the Union Home Minister also advised him not to induct any tainted Ministers including those against who are accused of having nexus with militants. Koijam further said the Centre is keen that Ministers embroiled in corruption charges should not be inducted into the Council of ministers. Koijam in response...

IMPHAL, February 15: Following the swearing-in of Samata Party leader Radhabinod Koijam as the new Chief Minister of the state today, a 28 member council of ministers is likely to be sworn in tomorrow. According to reliable sources, a decision to this effect was taken during a meeting of the People's Front, PF, leadership held late this evening. According to the report, all the MLAs of the Samata Party will be getting ministerial berths. MLAs Nimaichand Luwang, N Nimai, Laishram Kerani, Mayengbam Manihar, L Jonathan, M Thohrii, and Haokholet Kipgen, are certain to get cabinet berths, the...

IMPHAL, February 15: Leader of the newborn People's Front and state Samata Party, Radhabinod Koijam who said an all-party government is in the offing, was today sworn in as the 24th Chief Minister of Manipur, after hectic political activities kicked up by a series of defections and change in loyalties in the last few days. The Governor, Ved Prakash Marwah today administered the oath of secrecy to the newly appointed Chief Minister at the Raj Bhavan alone at around 1:20 this afternoon. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by former Chief Minister W Nipamacha, who shook hands with the newly...