IMPHAL, November 1: State Home Minister Gaikhangam has been designated as the Deputy Chief Minister in an order issued today by the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.
The state PCC President Gaikhangam was sworn in as a Minister on March 16 this year and given the Home Minister, as a result of the compromise formula worked out by the Congress High Command.
This is the second time in the post-statehood history of Manipur that a Chief Minister has divested the crucial department of Home to a Minister. Irengbam Tompok Singh was the Home Minister during Rishang Keishing’s reign.
Giving the home charge to Gaikhangam was part of a deal to let him withdraw the contest for the post of chief ministership paving the way for Ibobi Singh to return as the chief minister for the third consecutive term.
The recent appointment of the 62 year old Gaikhangam as the Deputy CM is being interpreted as a victory by the loyalists of the PCC chief in the divided Congress camp.
Reacting to his appointment Gaikhangam told IFP that he is ready to shoulder any responsibility given to him by the party or the Chief Minister and he will sincerely perform to meet expectations.
According to sources, Gaikhangam’s appointment as Deputy CM had been held up for quite some time due to serious objections put up by senior Congressmen Revenue Minister Th Debendra Singh and Health Minister T Phungzathang.
With Gaikhangam’s appointment, the anti-Ibobi camp is expecting more political developments in the future.
Meanwhile, the state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh is leaving for New Delhi tomorrow.
It may be recalled here that, Ibobi Singh had only recently come back from New Delhi after holding consultations with the Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and other party leaders on issues arising out of the GOI-NSCN IM political talks.
Gaikhangam: A profile
Elected MLA from 54-Nungba (ST) A/C, 3rd Manipur Legislative Assembly 1980
Minister of State — (Edn., Sw, Arts & Cult.& Sports)1983-1984
Elected MLA from 54-Nungba ST-A/C,4th Manipur Legisletive Assembly 1984
Minister of State (Tribal Dev. & District Council) Manipur (Indep. Charge) 1985- 1988
Minster of State, I.F.C.D., Manipur 1988-1990
Elected MLA from 54-NUngba (ST) A/C 5th Manipur Legisletive Assembly 1990
Cabinet Minister, (Forest), Manipur 1992-1993
Cabinet Minister, (Agri., Hort. & Soil Cons.) 1994
Elected MLA from 54-Nungba (S/T) A/C the 4th term 2002
Cabinet Minister, (Works), Manipur 2002-July 2004
Cabinet Minister, (Power,HSC,IPR), Manipur 7-2000-Apr 2006
Elected President of MPCC 10/9/2005