Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday said that the state government will appeal to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to hold by-elections to at least eight Assembly constituencies in Manipur at a time.
Even as 13 seats out of the 60-seat Manipur Assembly are lying vacant, ECI had on Tuesday announced holding of by-elections to only two Assembly constituencies in Manipur Wangjing Tentha and Lilong assembly constituencies in Thoubal district.
It can be mentioned here that Joint CEO of Manipur, Ramananda Nongmeikapam had hinted on Tuesday that pending court cases and election petitions might have been the reasons behind the non-announcement of schedule for by-elections to the remaining Assembly constituencies.
Meanwhile, Chief minister N Biren Singh said, “We are preparing to write to the ECI appealing the latter to hold the by-elections to at least 8 Assembly constituencies in the state. We will write the ECI this (Wednesday) evening itself.” The chief minister was talking to reporters on the sideline of state level Irabot Day celebration in Imphal.
Mention may be made that the chief minister had dropped six of his cabinet ministers and inducted five new faces in the recent major reshuffle effected on September 24 last.
Two days later, the chief minister distributed portfolios to the five new cabinet ministers.
The chief minister hinted of allocating the Health portfolio to the 12th minister which is yet to be inducted.
On the day of oath taking of the five new cabinet ministers, the chief minister had hinted of inducting the 12th minister after the by-elections.
NNN