AT Photo
IMPHAL, April 16: After about a month of its formation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Manipur today expanded its ministry by inducting six more ministers.
The newly inducted ministers who took oath at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal are Letpao Haokip, Dr Sapam Rajan, Leishengthem Susindro, Heikham Dingo,Thounaojam Basanta and Khashim Vashum.
Manipur governor La Ganesan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at the Banquet Hall of Raj Bhavan in Imphal around 11am today.
Dr Sapam Ranjan of Konthoujam assembly constituency, Leishengthem Susindro of Khurai, Heikham Dingo of Sekmai are two times elected BJP MLAs while Thounaojam Basanta is first time BJP MLA from Nambol seat in Bishnupur district.
Letpao Haokip who was elected for the second time from Tengnoupal seat on BJP ticket, was a former water resource minister in the previous government when he was elected on National People's Party ticket in 2017 polls.
Khashim Vashum, a two times MLA from Chingai seat in Ukhrul district representing Naga People's Front (NPF) in the assembly.
The State chief minister N Biren Singh, assembly speaker Th Satyabrata, Council of ministers, MLAs, BJP Manipur in charge Sambit Patra, BJP state president A Sharda Devi, Chief Secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar, DGP Manipur P Doungel, officials, political parties leaders and others were present during the day's swearing in ceremony.
On March 21, CM Biren Singh was sworn in as the chief minister of the State for the second term along with five other MLAs - four from BJP, one from NPF also sworn in as members of the council of ministers. The five MLAs are Thongam Biswajit, Yumnam Khemchand, Govindas Konthoujam, Nemcha Kipgen all BJP MLAs and Awangbow Newmai of NPF.
In the recently concluded assembly elections, BJP got absolute majority by winning 32 of the 60 seats, while National People's Party, an ally of the previous government in Manipur became second largest party by securing 7 seats. Congress and NPF secured five seats each.