Imphal: The three-day old Congress ministry in Manipur led by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh was on Friday expanded by inducting three senior Congress leaders at a simple function in Raj Bhavan.
Governor Gurbachan Jagat administered the oath of office and secrecy to former tribal development minister and state PCC president Gaikhangam, former forest minister Th Debendra Singh and former electricity minister Phungzathang Tonsing.
“I will expand the ministry after the three-day assembly session beginning from March 19,” Ibobi Singh said after the swearing in ceremony.
Asked whether there was a problem for swearing in all the ministers, Ibobi Singh said the party high command has to be consulted for everything.
Manipur with a 60-member assembly cannot have more than 12 ministers as per provisions of the Constitution.
Congress sources said that there was some misunderstanding among party leaders because some senior members wanted to be included, but a section of the people wanted some junior faces who were elected for the first time.
They also said a section of party leader wanted women’s representation in the ministry and two women legislators, the wife of the chief minister, Landhoni Devi and Mirabai Devi who defeated former chief minister L Chandramani Singh, should be inducted.
The chief minister said that all issues would be settled and portfolios allocated only after the next expansion.(PTI)
