Imphal: Outgoing Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has been re-elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Manipur for the third consecutive time.
He will also be the next chief minister as per the decision of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, L Faliero, Congress observer for the state, announced at the party office here on Tuesday.
He said he received the news about the decision of the Congress president last night.
Congress state president, Gaikhangam who was in the race for the leadership, said he was the happiest man and will abide by the decision taken by the party leadership.
In a CLP meeting held on March 7 it was resolved to ask the Congress High Command to take a decision on the leadership issue.
Faliero said the Congress is a family and all decisions will be taken within the family.
He also thanked the people of Manipur on behalf of the Congress party.
The Congress won 42 of the 60 seats in the Manipur Assembly.
To ensure peace in the region and implement the election manifesto it has been decided to form a ‘high power coordination committee’. The members will be appointed later, Faliero said.
Mr Ibobi said the term of the present government expires on March 15 and hence he will stake claim to form the next government before the expiry of the present term.
“The expectations of the people are high, the capability of the government is limited,” Ibobi said.
A decision on the ministerial list will be taken up after consulting the Congress High command, he added.
Ibobi is expected to stake claim by Wednesday.
Senior Congress leader L Nandakumar will take oath as Protem Speaker later today at the Raj Bhawan and the newly elected members will be sworn in on Wednesday.
Ibobi Singh credited with bringing political stability : Okram Ibobi Singh, who steered the Congress to a third consecutive term in Manipur, in the assembly elections is credited with bringing political stability to the state as very few chief ministers here could complete their terms before him in March 2002.
Soft-spoken 63-year-old joined the party when Reishang Keishing was the chief minister and was first elected to Manipur assembly in 1984 as an independent candidate.
He was appointed chairman of the state Khadi and Village Industries Board between November 1985 to January 1988. In 1990 he was re-elected to the assembly on a Congress ticket and became Industries minister. On his victory in the March 2002 assembly hustings, Ibobi became the chief minister followed by his second stint as CM in 2007. He was born in Athokpam Makham Leikai, a village in Thoubal. (Agencies)