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 andDeputy 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.
