IMPHAL, July 4 ? All the 32 ministers of the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) in Manipur Saturday night submitted their resignation papers to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh to give him a free hand in downsizing the jumbo ministry before July seven, official sources said here. Speaker T N. Haokip and Chairman of the Hill Areas Committee Songchinkhup, who was of the cabinet rank, also stepped down raising speculation about their induction in the ministry.
The Hill panel was formed by legislators from the hill area. The ministers who have submitted their resignation papers included 25 of cabinet rank and seven ministers of state (four with independent charge). The Speaker and the hill panel Chairman both submitted their papers to the Deputy Speaker L. Lala Singh. The Governor is in New Delhi at present.
Before tonight's turn of events Chief Minister Ibobi Singh chaired a meeting of the steering committee of SPF at his office which was attended by coalition partners Congress, CPI and Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP). Ibobi Singh, also President of the Manipur Predesh Congress Committee, yesterday returned from New Delhi after finalising with central party leaders the downsizing issue before July seven in accordance with the 91st constitutional amendment.
Of the ministers who resigned 27 were from Congress, 22 of them cabinet rank and five ministers of state (four having independent charge). Five ministers were from CPI including three of cabine rank and two ministers of state. The CPI had five legislators in the 59-member state assembly and all of them were inducted in the ministry while the Congress inducted 27 of the 32 MLAs in the ministerial council.
Congress leader T Meinya Singh earlier resigned from the state assembly and relinquished the Higher Education portfolio after the recent parliamentary polls after being elected to the Lok Sabha, bringing the assembly strength from 60 to 59. The coalition partner MSCP did not have any minister in the SPF ministry. Governor Arvin Dave is now out of station, Raj Bhavan sources said.