It is reported that the remaining portfolios of Manipur govt will be announced soon. People are expecting will their MLAs be in the Council of Ministers. It is open secret that some MLAs are busy lobbying in Guwahati and Delhi since last 2 weeks. It is a million dollar question who will be the Cabinet Minister from Churachandpur and Pherzawl district of Manipur.
A rough estimate suggest that altogether 6 new Ministers will be inducted in the govt. yet, it is not certain how many seats from the hills will be reserved in the new addition.
Churachandpur is next to Imphal in terms of development and population. So, people are expecting the best portfolio to the most capable leader from this district.
Six MLAs are representing Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts of Manipur. In the 2022 Manipur Assembly election, BJP has secured 3 seats, while JD(U) got 2 seats and one Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA).
In the last State Assembly, Vungzagin Valte from Thanlon AC was lucky enough to get Cabinet Minister. Vungzagin Valte was fortunate enough to be in the ministry after V Hangkhalian from Churachandpur AC was dropped from Biren led coalition govt in 2020. However, he was not popular among the voters of Churachandpur and Pherzawl.
During the Assembly session, he was grilled by opposition MLA. Moreover, he was flattered by his colleagues inside the Assembly for his incompetency. A Parliamentary enquiry committee was also set up to investigate misappropriate use of funds allocated to his department TA & Hills. Valte is a liability among the 3 BJP MLA from Churachandpur side.
As per report from Political pundits, people are hoping either BJP MLA Paolienlal Haokip from Saikot or JDU MLA LM Khaute to be N Biren Singh’s pick from the Churachandpur side. Both are qualified leaders.
Paolienlen Haokip was working as OSD to Union Minister of Tribal Affairs and as Additional Director in the Lok Sabha Secretariat for more than a decades. Young, educated and with backgrounds in student organisations, Paolienlal will be best bet for N Biren Singh to diffuse the tensions in and around Churachandpur from time to time.
If Biren led govt is ready to give Ministerial berth to JD(U), then Former DGP Manipur L M Khaute is also in the race for Cabinet Minister. We don’t need further introduction for him. Churachandpur is second to Imphal Capital and it is mandatory for the Manipur govt to have a Minister from Churachandpur AC. L M Khaute knows the current situation of Manipur and he will be an asset for N Biren Singh.
We have Vungzagin Valte, a liability of BJP and L M Khaute as the asset of N Biren Singh. While offering Cabinet Minister from Churachandpur, Central leaderships as well as the State leadership to weigh which will serve the people better.
It is reported that people prefer Paolienlen Haokip as the first choice and L M Khaute as the second alternative if JDU is given Ministerial berth in Biren’s govt. Let us hope for the best.
The writer is an Imphal-based freelance writer. Contact thangboiszou@gmail.com