Singh on Wednesday allocated portfolios among the two deputy CMs and two cabinet ministers, after a month of forming the new government.
As per the state notification, rural development and panchayati raj department and the tribal affairs and hills department have been allocated to deputy CM Nemcha Kipgen. The second deputy CM Losii Dikho has been allocated public health engineering department, forest environment and climate change. State minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh has been given the home and youth affairs and sports portfolio. Khuraijam Loken Singh has been given the arts, culture and tourism department. The chief minister himself has kept eight portfolios.
CM Khemchand Singh, Nemcha Kipgen and Konthoujam Govindas Singh belong to the BJP, while Losii Dikho and Khuraijam Loken Singh are from the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and the National People’s Party (NPP), respectively.
Several legislatures are waiting for a cabinet berth in the state. Several Muslim organisations have demanded induction of at least one Muslim minister in the cabinet. With the assembly elections next year, state leaders are expecting a cabinet expansion soon. However, as per sources, the clearance for expansion is pending with the BJP national leadership. Sources tell ET that the party wants the government to first settle in as some of the newly inducted ministers are facing challenges.
Deputy CM Nemcha Kipgen, who belongs to the Kuki community, has to take oath virtually from Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi due to security reasons. After her joining the cabinet there were a series of protests in Kuki dominated areas of Manipur.
