The much speculated cabinet reshuffle in the three and a half year old N Biren Singh led BJP coalition government in Manipur took place on Thursday. Chief minister N Biren Singh dropped six cabinet ministers from his council of ministers and inducted five new faces.
The five new faces who were inducted to the council of ministers are Okram Henry Singh, O Lukhoi Singh, Sorokhaibam Rajen, Thokchom Satyabrata Singh and Vungzagin Valte.
Henry and Lukhoi were ex-MLAs who left the Congress after tendering resignations as members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly in August this year while the rest three are sitting MLAs of the BJP.
Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla administered the oath of office to the five newly inducted cabinet ministers in a simple function held at Raj Bhavan this afternoon. The ceremony was held at 3.30 pm.
Earlier, the Governor accepted a proposal of the chief minister regarding dropping of six ministers from the council of ministers.
The chief minister dropped three ministers from his own party BJP, two from the NPP and the lone LJP minister in the coalition government. They are Education minister Th Radeshyam, Social Welfare minister Nemcha Kipgen, Agriculture minister V Hangkhalian, Health minister L Jayentakumar, Fishery minister N Kyaishii and CAF & PD minister Karam Shyam.
Manipur having a 60-seat Assembly can have the ceiling of 12 ministers including the chief minister and as only five ministers were inducted after dropping six, Biren can induct one more minister. Induction of one more minister is likely to be done after the due by-election expected to be held in October-November this year.
NNN