IT News
Imphal, April 16:
The BJP-led government headed by Chief Minister N Biren Singh today expanded its ministry by inducting six more ministers to the state Cabinet today. Now the BJP-led Manipur government has fielded all the Ministerial berths reaching the total number of cabinet Ministers to 12 including the Chief Minister. Of the 6 Ministers inducted today, five are from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and one from the ally Naga People’s Front (NPF).
The six ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Manipur Governor La Ganesan at Raj Bhavan here in Imphal.
The six Ministers inducted today and administered oath are Latpao Haokip from Tengnoupal Assembly Constituency, a minister in the previous BJP government, and Th Basanta Singh from Nambol Assembly Constituency, a former IPS officer and son of former Union minister Chaoba Singh, Dr. Sapam Ranjan Singh from Konthoujam Assembly Constituency, L Susindro Meitei from Khurai Assembly Constituency, and H Dingo Singh from Sekmai Assembly Constituency.
From NPF, Kasim Vasum from Chingai Assembly Constituency was sworn in as a minister, it said. NPF now has 2 Ministers in the BJP-led government.10 ministers are from BJP.
The Cabinet expansion comes within a month of N Biren Singh-led government retaining the power in the state for the second consecutive term.
Earlier N. Biren Singh was unanimously elected as BJP legislature party leader and was sworn in as the chief minister of Manipur for a second time at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal on March 21, along with Thongam Biswajit Singh, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Govindas Konthoujam, Nemcha Kipgen, all from the BJP, and Awngbow Newmai from NPF.
Mention may be made that even as Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had wanted to expand the ministry, it has to be done only today as the central leaders gave approval only yesterday. It was also reported that Organisation secretary of the BJP Dr. Sambit Pattra arrived here in Imphal along with a sealed envelope containing the names of the ministers approved by the central leadership. That means the Chief Minister has no direct hand to the expansion of his ministry. All was done as per the decision of the central leadership.
In the swearing-in ceremony held at Raj Bhavan today several leaders of the BJP as well as the Union MoS for External Affairs Dr. RK Ranjan, State BJP President A Sharda Devi , Dr. Sambit Pattra , RS MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, other cabinet ministers including the Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, Th. Bishwajit, Awangbow Newmai, Y. Khemchand, Govindas Konthoujam, Nemcha Kipgen and other top government officials were present.
