No clear answer yet on Ministry expansion

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 23: Even though Yumnam Khemchand was sworn as the Chief Minister of Manipur 20 days back, there is no clear information as yet on when his Council of Ministers will be expanded.
With different sources giving incoherent and inconsistent information regarding expansion of the Council of Ministers and distribution of portfolios, nothing can be said with certainty when Khemchand’s Council of Ministers will be expanded to the full strength, which is 12.
In addition to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand, two Deputy Chief Ministers–– Losii Dikho and Nemcha Kipgen and two Cabinet Ministers namely; Govindas Konthoujam and Khuraijam Loken were sworn in on February 4.
Since then, the new Government headed by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand has been functioning with the four Ministers without any portfolios.
Meanwhile Yumnam Khemchand who is currently at Delhi met many Central leaders today including Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Khemchand met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday and he may come back to Imphal on February 25 after meeting some other Central leaders.
Together with Losii Dikho and Nemcha Kipgen, Khemchand held a meeting with Amit Shah at around 5.30 pm at New Delhi on Sunday.
The meeting deliberated on the State’s law and order situation, the State Government’s initiatives to restore communal harmony and the efforts to resettle IDPs.
The Chief Minister appealed to the Union Government for additional funds towards resettlement and rehabilitation of IDPs.
The Union Home Minister assured that the Central Government will pay special attention to restoration of peace and development of  Manipur.
Khemchand held a meeting with BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santosh at around 10 am today and they discussed expansion of the State’s Council of Ministers and distribution of portfolios.
They also discussed further strengthening BJP in Manipur and ensuring a landslide victory in the 13th Manipur Legislative Assembly election which is due in 2027.    
The Chief Minister also met Union DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Later, the Chief Minister and the two Deputy Chief Ministers called on BJP National president Nitin Nabin at the BJP National office at New Delhi.
It was the first time that Khemchand met Nitin Nabin after taking charge as the State’s new BJP Chief Minister on February 4 last.
During the meeting, the BJP National president discussed with  Khemchand matters relating to the strengthening of the State party unit.
Nabin asked the Chief Minister to speed up the State Government’s effort on the resettlement of the internally displaced persons (IDPs).
He assured all possible help from the party’s side in this effort.
Khemchand was elected as the new leader of Manipur’s BJP Legislature Wing at New Delhi on February 3 last.
He was the first BJP Chief Minister to be named after Nitin Nabin took charge of the saffron party.