IMPHAL, April 12: The question on who should be the next MPCC chief is being considered alongside the composition of the Okram Ibobi Singh led Congress ministry, according to highly places sources in the Congress party.
Decks have been cleared with the nomination of senior MLA from Churachandpur district Dr Chaltonlien Amo for the post of the Chairman of the powerful Hill Areas Committee. Earlier, there was a demand for another cabinet post from the Kuki-Chin-Mizo group besides Phungzathang Tonsing as a Meitei and a Naga had become the Chief Minister and the Home Minister respectively.
It may be recalled here that, the Churachandpur district returned 6 Congress MLAs in the 60-member Manipur Assembly.
Meanwhile, senior Vice President of MPCC and MLA of Thanga constituency Tongbram Mangibabu Singh has been tipped for the crucial post of MPCC chief, according to informed sources. Dr Chaltonlien Amo’s name had earlier figured in the probable list for the post of MPCC president.
Gaikhangam is set to resign from the post of the President of MPCC as he has been sworn in as a Minister in the Ibobi led ministry.
According to the sources, even though the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had stated that the composition of his ministry would be finalized with the party high command he along with his cabinet colleagues have already shortlisted a few names for the next expansion.
He had made a hint that, the next expansion would be final. At present, there are 8 vacancies in the Ibobi led Council of Ministers as there are already 4 ministers including the Chief Minister.
Among the probables, mention may be made of Moirangthem Okendra of Heirok from Thoubal district; Irengbam Hemochandra of Singjamei from Imphal West; Ngamthang Haokip of Kangpokpi from Sadar Hills; and Govindas Konthoujam from Bishnupur District.
The Imphal East representative is yet to be decided and the choice is between Yumkham Erabot of Wangkhei, Nongthombam Biren of Heingang and Dr Ng Bijoy of Khurai, the sources added.
The Chief Minister had said that, women’s quota could be included only with the approval of the high command.
It may be recalled here that the Rajya Sabha had approved the 33 percent women’s reservation in the parliament and the state legislatures while a decision is pending at the Lok Sabha. AK Mirabai’s name has been mentioned against the women’s reservation, in case the party high command takes it into account.
The Congress party has two women Congress MLAs in the 10th Manipur Assembly including the wife of the Chief Minister Okram ongbi Landhoni Devi. There are 3 women representatives in the present assembly including Nemcha Kipgen of Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP).
It is still not clear, whether there will be two more representatives from the Naga community besides Gaikhangam, but the names of Victor Keishing of Phungyar from Ukhrul district and Francis Ngajokpa of Tadubi from Senapati Distrcit is doing the rounds.
Chandel district with two seats returned only one Congress MLA DK Korungthang of Tengnoupal. The district may not be represented in the present Council of Ministers.
The minority quota may not be considered this time in the cabinet, and Md Amin Shah of Kshetrigao is tipped for the post of the Deputy Speaker.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Home Minister Gaikhangam is leaving Imphal on April 15 for the Internal Security conference along with the state DGP Ratnakar Baral.
The two leaders will meet AICC president Sonia Gandhi and other leaders to finalise the composition of the ministry.
The All India Congress Committee is scheduled to meet at New Delhi on April 16.
The Chief Minister had made a hint that no more senior leader will be inducted in his ministry when he said that three senior party MLAs have been inducted in the first expansion of the ministry.
The Chief Minister had reiterated that MLAs to be inducted in the next phase expansion would be decided at the April 16 meeting, which will be attended by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, AICC chief Sonia Gandhi and other Central leaders of the party.
