The ongoing 2nd session of the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly which began from July 20 has turn out to be another plus point for the N. Biren Singh led coalition regime. No doubt, many new faces are seen in the ruling bench, some as the first timer but hold important portfolio. On the other hand those in the Opposition benches are heavy weight politicians. Except for some young and dynamic newly elected representatives like Surajkumar Okram and Henry Okram, almost all the legislators in the opposition benches have been elected either 4 times or some even five times. It is a fact that the opposition MLAs who were moving policy cut motions in most of the demand for grants are all one or two times Ministers in the past regime. Leader of the house who keep continuing watching the scene is three times Chief Minister until the new BJP led government under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh comes from the government about some 3 months back.
Enthusiasm to correct the wrong in the system which had been not satisfied either by the public and the political leaders has made so busy the newly elected MLAs and the new Ministers that – people sees no holidays for them in doing something for their people. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh was so busy that one wanders how he managed to take rest while completing the incomplete left over works by the previous government in just 100 or more days.
Saying so, it stands true and as nobody is a fool in today highly developed society with each having television sets to listen the day today happening in the state. Those who understand the meaning of state budget surely have reason to criticise the budget estimate presented by the State Finance Minister. The way the budget was tabled showed that there are certain loopholes and miscommunication between the various departments of the state, above all promises and planning announced by the Chief Minister as well as by some of the Ministers are not even reflected to the budget presented. Agriculture the main priority area has been left aside. Perhaps the time limitation is one reason for leaving out the priority area. And Mr. Finance Minister who is also the Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur had already pointed out.
Well, on the part of the opposition MLAs, who has been ruling the state for 3 consecutive term, there is nothing much to say. Senior leader K Ranjit, N. Loken, Kh. Joykishan, AK Mirabai among others who are very vocal in the debate for passing of demands for grants moved by the Finance Minister.
Interestingly, some of the concern areas that these MLAs moved policy cut motion are indeed knowledge for the people of the state. It was only at the time when an Opposition MLA who had run the state until three months back that people in the state knows that money meant for distribution as Pension to aged people have been misappropriated during in the last three terms.
Nepcha Kipgen the new Social Welfare Minister who took charge of the department only after 3 months back might have miss out in understanding where all the pension who are expired but not replaced officially.
On the matter of discussion on Health department it is already known that in just three months the new government is doing everything it can to streamline the department. But why the Congress MLAs put it up only now, when they could have done when they are in power. Nothing much to say but the Opposition MLAs did revealed what the previous government had failed in their hard debate on demand discussion. Or does that mean that they have more faith in Chief Minister N Biren SIngh led government.
A matter needs to ponder.
