IMPHAL, March 13 (agencies): Okram Ibobi Singh, who steered the Congress to a third consecutive term in Manipur, in the assembly elections is credited with bringing political stability to the state as very few chief ministers here could complete their terms before him in March 2002.
Soft-spoken 63-year-old joined the party when Reishang Keishing was the chief minister and was first elected to Manipur assembly in 1984 as an independent candidate.
He was appointed chairman of the state Khadi and Village Industries Board between November 1985 to January 1988.
In 1990 he was re-elected to the assembly on a Congress ticket and became Industries minister. On his victory in the March 2002 assembly hustling, Ibobi became the chief minister followed by his second stint as chief minister in 2007.
He was born in Athokpam Makha Leikai, an interior village in Thoubal district, on July 19, 1948 to Okram Angoubi and Lukamani Devi. He is an Arts graduate from a local college.
His wife Landhoni Devi is a newly-elected Congress MLA. She was a small time government contractor before becoming a social worker. They have a son and two daughters.