Mail News Service
Imphal, Apr 28: : Eight ministers were inducted into the Congress government led by Ibobi Singh today. The second swearing in ceremony of the Ibobi government began at 4 pm at the Raj Bhawan banquet hall. I Hemochandra, former Speaker, K Govindas, M Okendro, Ngamthang Haokip, Francis Ngajokpa, Dr Kh Ratan, Ak Mirabai and Md Abdul Nasir were administered oath of office and secrecy by the Governor Gurbhachan Jagat.
All the newly inducted ministers are fresh faces in the Ibobi government and were not ministers in the last government. This is the third government led by O Ibobi Singh. Ak Mirabai a woman Congress MLA from Patsoi AC and Md Abdul Nasir from Lilong AC were elected for the first time and became minister for the first time. Dr Kh Ratan was elected for the second time from Mayang Imphal AC and became a minister for the first time. The other five ministers inducted today had earlier served as Cabinet ministers earlier.
O Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister, Congress president and Home Minister Gaikhangam, Congress ministers, MLAs, officials attended the function. Ibobi said the ministerial berths were given after giving lots of thoughts and considering their seniority and area they represented.
The main focus of the present government will be power, communications and health sector he said and full thrust will be given on these three aspects.
After the declarations of the Assembly results on March 6 last in which Congress got 41 seats in the 60 member House, Mr. Ibobi had taken oath as Chief Minister on March 14 and three senior members were inducted as Cabinet ministers on March 17. Congress President Gaikhangam was inducted as Home Minister, Debendra as Forest and Environment Minister and Phungzathang Tonsing as Health Minister.
Those elected and denied ministerial berths were Y Erabot, N Biren, K Ranjit, TN Haokip, N Loken.
Three other former minister, DD Thaisii, Md Alauddin and L Jayentakumar were not elected. The Chief Minister said there is possibility of rotating the ministerial berth and this time it will be different from the previous ministry.
Some of the MLAs who were denied ministerial berths were absent however TN Haokip and K Ranjit were present in the function.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/eight-new-ministers-inducted-into-ibobi-government/
