Ibobi sits on thorny Manipur throne again

Imphal, Mar 2 (UNI) Coming back to power again, Okram Ibobi Singh has become the first Chief Minister in the history of Manipur to serve a full term of five years in the state politics known for defection and change of loyalty.

Born on 19th June, 1948, at Thoubal Athokpam Makha Leikai, Thoubal district, the soft-spoken, never-angry-faced and hardly smiling Ibobi Singh was first elected in 1984 to the 4th Manipur Legislative Assembly as an Independent candidate and served as Chairman, Khadi and Village Industries Board from 1985 to 1988.

He was re-elected to the 5th Manipur Legislative Assembly on I.N.C. ticket and became Minister (Industries and MAHUD).

In 2002, he was re-elected for the third time to the 8th Manipur Legislative Assembly on I.N.C. Ticket and became the Chief Minister of Secular Progressive Front government. The Congress which won 20 seats in the last Assembly won thirty this time with Ibobi wresting two seats himself at Thoubal and Khangabok with convincing margin.

Ibobi Singh attributes his success to the developmental works taken up in Manipur with support from the UPA government.

The seat of Chief Minister in Manipur had earlier been marked with only short tenure which started with F.F. Pearson as the first Chief Minister in 1947 for a month only.

Manipur was an Independent country till October 15, 1949, after which it became a party of the Indian Union and the post of Chief Minister was revived in 1963. M. Koireng Singh became the Chief Minister from 1963 to 1967.

After Manipur attained statehood, Md. Alimuddin became CM serving from 1972 to 1973.

UNI