Cracks in Manipur govt seems mended; deputy CM takes charge of reallocated portfolios

Imphal: Days after reports of deputy chief minister of Manipur and National People’s Party (NPP) leader Y Joykumar Singh refusing to accept the three reallocated portfolios and demanding home portfolio did the rounds, the murky water seems to have cleared in the BJP-led coalition government as he has been reported to have resumed office.

EastMojo spoke with Singh on Thursday and the NPP leader himself confirmed that he has resumed work.

“Yes, I have started working,“ Singh said.

The deputy CM has joined the office and accepted the three portfolios — finance, science & technology and economics & statistics — which were reassigned by Governor Najma Heptulla, said sources.

Also Read: Manipur: Is deputy CM Y Joykumar Singh refusing reallocated portfolios without home dept?

According to sources, the three other NPP MLAs have also resumed duty by retaining their previous respective portfolios before the resignation.

With this, NPP MLA L Jayantakumar Singh has now retained health and family welfare, law and legislative affairs, art and culture and command area development authority, whereas MLA Letpao Haokip has resumed office as minister for water resources, youth affairs and sports. MLA N Kayisii has also resumed as minister for tribal affairs, hill area development and fisheries, sources said.

Earlier, Joykumar Singh informed that he will not take three reallocated portfolios until he got the matter discussed with Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi.

Also Read: Manipur ministry reshuffled; deputy CM Joykumar gets finance & others

Background:

The political trouble in Manipur started when Joykumar Singh was stripped off from his 11 portfolios on April 9 after he allegedly passed a controversial remark against CM Biren Singh over rice distribution amid the pandemic.

Apart from Naga People’s Front (NPF) Party, NPP is the one of the major allies in the BJP-led coalition government in Manipur with four MLAs.

The months-long crisis finally resulted with 11 MLAs, including four NPP legislators, withdrawing support to BJP-led coalition government in the state and resigned as ministers, while equally accusing CM N Biren Singh for functioning the government in an autocratic manner.

Also Read: Big blow to BJP-led govt in Manipur as 9 MLAs resign

Meanwhile, the Congress party in the state led by former CM Okram Ibobi Singh staked claim of forming the government after the 11 MLAs announced to the support the Opposition party making the BJP in minority.

However, later, the NPP revoked their decision and renewed support after the four MLAs, accompanied by its chief Conrad K Sangma and convenor of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, met Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi.

Also Read: Manipur girl who left quarantine center after 41 days tests COVID-19 positive