SPF begins downsizing jugglery

Imphal, June 04: With the deadline (July 7) for reducing the size of the SPF Ministry to 12, fast approaching, the SPF Govt has started drawing up a tentative list of the Ministers likely to be dropped and likely to be retained. Expectedly intense lobbying and behind the scene activities have intensified with a number of young Ministers audibly voicing their stand against any move to drop them. Disclosing this to The Sangai Express a well placed source said that according to the tentative list, Thoubal district may have three or two Ministers including the Chief Minister. Abdul Salam from Thoubal may be retained in the Ministry to represent the minority community, said the source. Significantly Abdul Salam is also the senior most member from the Muslim community and this will work to his advantage, added the source. The source further said that FCS Minister Ph Parijat of the CPI is most likely to be dropped from the Ministry. For the CPI it may be a toss up between Dr Nara of Wangjing Tentha and N Mangi of Kumbi. However the CPI may take its own decision on who should continue in the Council of Ministers, added the source. For Bishnupur district, K Govindas is a near certainty to make the cut, said the source. Another sure certainty is Commerce and Industries Minister Th Debendra from Imphal East Jiribam AC. Debendra is understood to enjoy the confidence of the AICC leadership and is one of the senior most Congressmen. There is good news for women, as the lone woman MLA and Minister W Leima is likely to be retained to balance the Ministry, informed the source. Working in favor of Leima is the 33 pc reservation for women mooted in the Common Minimum Programme drawn up by the coalition Government at New Delhi. Speaker TN Haokip may be shunted out from the post of Speaker and made a Minister. Power Minister Phung- zathang Tonsin may be made the next Speaker. Haokip and Tonsing are from CCpur district. Dr Chaltonlien Amo, from the same district may be made the Manipur Pradesh Youth Congress secretary. For Senapati district, it could be a toss up between RK Thekho of Mao AC and Francis Ngajokpa of Tadubi AC. However as Thekho represents Mao which is on the Nagaland border, the dice may roll his way, said the source. Ngamthang Haokip is most likely to remain in the Ministry as he is the lone face representing Sadar Hills in the SPF Govt. Works Minister and senior Congressman Gaikhangam may be awarded with the post of MPCC (I) president in lieu of his Ministerial post while Z Mangaoibou may be retained to represent Tamenglong in the Ministry. With respect to Chandel and Ukhrul districts, DK Korungthang and A Aza may be retained respectively. The source also informed that the Ministry be reshuffled on a rotation basis from time to time. The list though is not final and a final list may be drawn up only after Chief Minister O Ibobi returns from his Delhi sojourn, added the source.