IMPHAL: Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today inducted three new cabinet-rank ministers into his government and reshuffled portfolios of several prominent ministers in the Congress-led state.
The new minister inductees include Ksh Biren (Lamlai), T Manga Vaiphei (Henglep) and D K Korungthang (Tengnoupal-ST ), who were administered the oath of secrecy by Governor V Shanmuganathan at a ceremony at the Raj Bhavan this afternoon, according to a press release issued by Manipur Directorate of Information and Public Relations.
They have replaced Forest and Revenue minister Th Devendro Singh, Health and Family Welfare minister Phungzathang Tonsing and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj minister Francis Ngajokpa who had tendered their resignation to the Chief Minister yesterday, the release said.
The size of the ministry, however, remains the same at 12, a party spokesperson said.
The reshuffle came in the wake of 20 Congress legislators voicing disaffection with the functioning of the ministers, a Congress spokesman said.
In a notice issued by the state Chief Secretary O Nabakishore later in the evening, the government announced protfolios of the new ministers and effected a reshuffle of some prominent cabinet ministers.
While there have been no changes in the portfolios held by the Chief Minister except for Science and Technology and Deputy CM Gaikhangam, Biren was allocated the portfolios of Works and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
Korunthang was given multiple portfolios of Health and Family Welfare, General Administration Department and Command Area Development Authority, which were earlier held by Phunzathang Tonsing who resigned as minister.
Vaiphei has been allocated portfolios of PHED, Labour and Employment, which were formerly held by minister I Hemochandra.
Vaiphei also assumed the portfolio of Science and Technology which was earlier held by the Chief Minister himself.
Meanwhile, Hemochandra has been given the responsibility of looking after Law, Revenue, Legislative Affairs, Forest and Environment which was previously held by Th Devendro, who too resigned as minister.
The portfolios held by another minister Francis Ngajokpa who resigned has been allocated to Moirangthem Okendro Singh. He has been allocated the task of looking after the department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj along with Economic and Statistics.
M Okendro has been divested of the Education protfolio which in addition to Transport has now been allocated to Dr Ratan Kumar.
However, there have been no changes as far as the portfolios of four other ministers are concerned.
They include Ngamthang Haokip (IFCD and Printing and Stationary), A K Mirabai (Social Welfare and Cooperation), Abdul Nasir Agriculture and Fisheries and Govindas Konthoujam (Commerce and Industry, Sericulture and Veterinary and Animal Husbandry), as per the press note issued by the Secretariat.
All departments which are not allotted to other ministers are retained by the Chief Minister.