IMPHAL, April 22: The state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh came back to the state capital Imphal today in the forenoon, while disputes on the composition of his ministry still remained unresolved.
Reliable sources said, the Chief Minister had to come back to Imphal as Khongjom Day (April 23) is one of the most important observations in the state wherein it has become a compulsory ritual for state leaders including the state Governor and the CM to pay respects to the martyrs of 1891 war at Khongjom War memorial.
The sources add, CM Ibobi Singh is likely to leave Imphal for New Delhi again tomorrow evening after attending the Khongjom function.
Meanwhile, state Home Minister Gaikhangam is still camping in New Delhi. He was summoned by the AICC high command for discussions on the next expansion of the Okram Ibobi led Congress ministry. Another senior leader Y Erabot Singh is in New Delhi awaiting developments.
According to informed sources, out of the remaining eight ministerial posts two in the case of Thoubal and Bishnupur have already been decided leaving six posts for consideration.
Among the districts Thoubal, Imphal East, Churachandpur and Tamenglong has already one minister each. The districts of Bishnupur, Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel and Imphal West are still not represented in the ministry.
Ethnic representation read two Meiteis, one Naga and one from the Kuki-Chin Mizo group. Considering the ethnic representation among Congress MLAs, the Kukis have eight while the Nagas have six, leading to a possible choice between a Naga and Kuki in Senapati district. Yet, the Naga factor is very crucial in Senapati district.
But, the Naga-dominated Ukhrul and Tamenglong districts have 2 Congress MLAs each, while Chandel and Senapati districts have one each.
In the present deadlock, representation with regard to Imphal East, Imphal West and woman’s quota has become a matter of concern. Some leaders close to the Congress President seem to favor the untainted Y Erabot and woman representative Ak Mirabai which had led to more problems, the sources add.