IMPHAL, March 23 - Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh�s eight day-old BJP-led coalition government was expanded by inducting three more Ministers to take its strength to 12, on Thursday.
Manipur Governor Dr Najma A Heptulla administered the oath of office and secrecy to the three new Ministers � V Hangkhalian, Nemcha Kipgen and Th Radheshyam, all belonging to BJP, in a simple ceremony at Banquet Hall of Raj Bhavan here today. Incidentally, Kipgen is the lone woman MLA in the 60-member House.
Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, former Manipur Chief Ministers O Ibobi Singh and RB Koijam, BJP State president Kh Bhabananda, MLAs and others attended the ceremony.
Later this evening, Chief Minister Biren administered the oath of office and secrecy to 12 Parliamentary Secretaries at the Cabinet Hall of CM�s Secretariat here.
The Parliamentary Secretaries are L Sushindro, S Subhaschandra, L Rameshwar, N Indrajit, K Robindro, Th Seitabrata, H Dingo, Dr S Ranjan, all BJP; Khasim Vashum, K Leishiyo and Awangbou Newmai, all NPF and Independent MLA Md Ashab Uddin.
Portfolios of Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries will be announced without delay, the Chief Minister informed, adding, the posts of chairmen of government agencies will also be announced soon.
The first session of the Manipur Assembly was adjourned sine die by Speaker Yumnam Khemchand on Thursday. The four day Assembly session began on March 20.
Earlier, Manipur Appropriation (No.1) Bill, 2017 and Manipur Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2017 were passed by the House earlier.
Newmai News adds: The first-ever BJP government headed by Biren Singh in Manipur was formed with the support of National people�s Party (NPP), Naga People�s Front (NPF), AITC and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).
Manipur assembly polls 2017 threw up a hung verdict. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to secure 21 seats. Though the Congress emerged as the single largest party with 28 seats, it failed to muster the required numbers to form a government and that led to the formation of the BJ-led coalition government.
