Ibobi govt sees first crack, Congress leaders in New Delhi

Imphal, June 8 (UNI) Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Congress president Gaikhangam, presently in New Delhi to meet central leaders, are reportedly not on good terms.

Party sources said Mr Gaikhangam was 'not happy with the way he was treated by the chief minister'.

Trouble started after the chief minister put the Congress president in the fourth position in the seniority list of Cabinet Ministers during the swearing-in ceremony after elections were held in February.

Sources said the Congress president was annoyed as he was not given any 'good' portfolio and had to be content with the Health ministry. Consequently, Mr Gaikhangam resigned on June six.

Congress sources revealed that Mr Ibobi, Mr Gaikhangam, Minister of Tribal Development Phungzathang Tonsing, Minister of Information T N Haokip, Minister of Backward Classes Md Allauddin and some MLAs were presently in New Delhi to discuss the political developments with Congress leaders.

The Congress, which commands absolute majority of 31 seats in the 60-member Assembly, has been plagued with crisis as the ministry had to be reduced to just 12.

Consequently, Mr O Ibobi Singh was unable to expand his ministry after the first swearing-in ceremony held on March nine, in which six Cabinet Ministers took oath.

However, with the resignation of Mr Gaikhangam, six more ministers could be inducted into the Ibobi government.

Meanwhile, the Congress MLAs were fighting for ministerial berth and there was strong possibility of the 'neglected' MLAs supporting another leader, the sources apprehended.

UNI