IMPHAL, April 18 (NNN): The eagerly awaited return of Manipur chief minister O. Ibobi Singh from the national capital to Imphal with news of which MLAs are to be included in the cabinet of the newly formed Congress government was dashed as the chief minister reportedly could not meet the AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, informed a source.
About a month has passed since the swearing in of the three MLAs – Gaikhangam, Debendro and Phungjathang – as cabinet ministers, and the sojourn to Delhi was seen by politicians aspiring for cabinet berths as the final wait before the list of new MLAs to be sworn in as cabinet ministers would be announced.
The chief minister has been in New Delhi for the last few days to attend the meet of chief ministers on internal security and also to meet the AICC high command for final confirmation of who are going to be included as the cabinet and also who is to be the new president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, replacing Gaikhangam from the post and who is now holding the post of the home minister in the government of Manipur.
The chief minister of the state had assured that the cabinet would be expanded at the earliest and had reportedly taken along with him the probable list of cabinet ministers who are to be inducted in the ministry, for final approval of the AICC high command.
If the chief minister is able to meet the AICC chief today and gets approval of the list of cabinet ministers, he will most likely return to Imphal on Thursday, added the source.
It may be mentioned that the home minister of Manipur, Gaikhangam has been in New Delhi ahead of the chief minister’s arrival there, and there has been speculations by political analysts, MLAs and the public about who all might be included in the next batch of cabinet ministers.