Imphal, July 2: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam despite claims of having taken the appointment of meeting AICC president Sonia Gandhi were yet to meet her till late Wednesday evening, a source told IFP.
Both the Chief Minister and deputy Chief Minister after attending the meeting of the AICC Monitoring Group chaired by AK Anthony got the appointment for meeting AICC president Sonia Gandhi. However, they were kept waiting till late evening, the source added.
It is yet to be confirmed whether they were actually given the permission to meet the AICC president, it said.
Meanwhile, a highly placed source revealed that the reshuffle of ministers will likely happen soon.
At this juncture, it’s hard to decide who are going to be replaced. The Chief Minister and deputy Chief Minister were scheduled to return on July 4. But without securing a meeting with the AICC president, it remains to be seen what they will do next, added the source.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam left Imphal for Delhi separately on Tuesday. The Chief Minister assured the 27 MLAs demanding a mid-term cabinet reshuffle that their demands will be put up before the AICC leaders.
One of the 27 MLAs who wants to remain anonymous said they have got information of the reshuffle of ministers but cannot tell who will get which ministerial portfolios.
“We will accept any decisions of the two leaders. In such conditions, the 27 MLAs are awaiting the response of the party high command on the mid-term cabinet reshuffle of 10 ministers barring the Chief Minister and deputy Chief Minister.”
The MLAs will react according to the response of the party high command, he added.
The 27 MLAs have demanded an assurance for the reshuffle before the July 11 assembly budget session.
The 27 MLAs demanding a reshuffle include the parliamentary secretaries, the five MLAs who recently joined from MSCP, MLA O Landhoni, Y Irabot and Speaker Th Lokeshwar.
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/aicc-president-make-cm-and-dy-cm-to-cool-their-heels/