SPF Ministers to resign on July 4

Imphal, June 26: With the exception of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh all the SPF Council of Minister are likely to tender resignation from their respective portfolios on July 4 to facilitate Ministry down-sizing exercise. Including the Chief Minister the Ministerial strength of the SPF Government is 33. According to New Delhi Manipur Bhavan press source the CM along with his Ministerial colleagues currently at the national capital are likely to return to Imphal on June 29 or 30. Only the final touches like consent of the All India Congress Committee President Sonia Gandhi remain for the July 7 Ministry downsizing process and there is unlikely to be any last minute hitches on submission of resignation papers of the SPF Ministers on July 4. The source also informed of 11 ruling MLAs short listed to take oath of office on July 7. A tentative understanding is said to be reached among the SPF Ministers despite the fact that visit of the CM and other Ministers to discuss down-sizing formality with the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and AICC chief Sonia Gandhi is yet to materialize. Both the central leaders are likely to entertain O Ibobi and his Ministerial troupes tomorrow. Mention may be made here that Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing and Power Minister Phunzathang Tonsing had flown in to New Delhi yesterday for discussion on the Ministry down-sizing with the CM while Family Welfare Minister Bijoy Koijam and Works Minister Gaikhangam are also holed up at the national capital for the same purpose. Sources revealed that some SPF Ministers in their attempt to secure berth in the new Ministry are separately meeting senior AICC leaders and strong lobby on to convince the central leaders. The source further confided that inspite of earlier speculations Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker TN Haokip is unlikely to figure when the list of 11 new Ministers are announced. The Chief Minister reportedly urged TN Haokip to sacrifice Ministerial berth when the latter, the source said, put pressure on O Ibobi for a slot in the new Council of Minister. Ibobi is informed to have assured the current Speaker of allotting Ministership before end of the five year term of SPF while acknowledging TN Haokip's concern that being a Speaker he is in a helpless position to fulfil the aspiration and desire of his (Haokip) constituency electorates. Other press source also informed of Hill Areas Committee Chairman Songchinkhup and Deputy Speaker M Lala fuming at the Chief Minister's reluctance to address their respective grievances with particular reference to the Ministry Down-sizing process. It pertinent to mention that expressing their displeasure both Songchinkhup and Lala had even submitted their resignations as the Chief Minister had not kept his word on assurances to accommodate the two in the Council of Minister when the SPF Ministry expansion was last affected on April 21, 2003. Both withdraw their resignation papers only after the CM and other senior Ministers had cajoled the two.