Six cabinet ministers inducted into Ibobi ministry

Imphal, June 27 (UNI) Six Cabinet ministers were today inducted into the Okram Ibobi Singh led Congress ministry, taking the strength of the cabinet to 12, including the Chief Minister himself.

The six Cabinet ministers are Y Erabot of the Wangkhei Assembly constituency, N Loken of Nambol AC, L Jayenta Kumar of Keishamthong, K Ranjit of Sugnu, D D Thaisii of Mao AC and N Biren. All of them are from the Congress party.

The formal swearing in ceremony started at the Raj Bhawan's banquet hall at 1500 hrs where Governor S S Sidhu administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly-inducted ministers.

The Chief Minister, senior Cabinet ministers Phungzathang Tonsing, Th Devendra, T N Haokip, Ph Parijat and Md Allauddin, former Chief Minister Rishang Keishing and a host of VIPS attended the function.

Congress leaders said the Chief Minister came back from Delhi yesterday along with three cabinet ministers-- Phungzathang Tonsing, TN Haokip and Allauddin Khan.

The Ibobi ministry was formed in February and the first ministry expansion was effected in March in which six ministers were sworn in.

Congress President Gaikhangam resigned as minister earlier and hence six berths were vacant.

The Congress has now eleven ministers and the CPI one. The RJD, which is supporting the Secular Progressive Front government led by the Congress with three MLAs, was not given any ministerial berth.

Meanwhile, two newly-elected members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly who won during the recent by-election, took oath today.

Speaker S Buddhichandra administered the oath to the newly elected Assembly members, O Landhoni, wife of the Chief Minister who won from Khangabok, Thoubal district and Th Lokeshore of Khundrakpam, Imphal East, both of the Congress party.

UNI