Bill to stem discontent among Manipur Cong MLAs

The Manipur Parliamentary Secretary (Appointment, Salary and Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 2012, was introduced by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh against the backdrop of resentment among 42 Congress MLAs as majority of them could not get a ministerial berth.

The bill would enable the state government to appoint parliamentary secretaries enjoying the rank of a minister of state, assembly secretariat sources said.

The proposed legislation would also enable parliamentary secretaries to get the responsibility of looking after government departments.

Congress won 42 seats in the 60-member House and as per provisions of the Constitution, Manipur cannot have more than 12 ministers.

To keep the Congress flock together, the Chief Minister had promised some aspirants the posts of parliamentary secretaries and chairmen of boards and corporations.

Opposition BJP, however, opposed the bill saying it would put additional burden on the state exchequer.

Congress sources said after enactment of the law, the state government might appoint seven parliamentary secretaries from among the party MLAs.