Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh on Saturday expanded his cabinet for the first time since assuming office, inducting six more MLAs as ministers.
Governor La Ganesan administered the oath of office to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Tengnoupal AC, Letpao Haokip, Konthoujam AC MLA Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh from BJP, BJP’s Leishangthem Susindro Meitei from Khurai AC, BJP’s Thounaojam Basanta Singh, newly elected MLA from Nambol AC, Heikham Dingo, BJP MLA from Sekmai AC, and Khashim Vashum, NPF MLA from Chingai AC (ST) at Durbar Hall, Imphal.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh was present along with other members of the cabinet at the swearing-in ceremony.
The cabinet expansion comes after 27 days the Chief Minister himself took oath along with five ministers on March 21 in the presence of BJP national president JP Nadda, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb among others.
The other MLAs who took oath along with the Chief Ministers are Th Biswajit Singh, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Govindas Konthoujam and Nemcha Kipgen and Naga People’s Front (NPF) leader Awangbou Newmai.
Thokchom Satyabrata was elected as the Speaker of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on March 24.
With the induction of six new ministers, Biren now has full cabinet of 12 ministers.
In the recently held Assembly polls, the BJP won an absolute majority by winning 32 seats in the 60-member House. Moreover, the Janata Dal (United), the NPF, the newly formed Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) and two Independent MLAs have extended their unconditional support to the saffron party. The JDU (U) won six seats, NPF won five and the KPA won two seats.
