Manipur CM to meet BJP central leadership soon for redistribution of cabinet portfolios

Having overcome a political crisis with return of four NPP MLAs to Manipur's ruling alliance, Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday said he would soon go to New Delhi to meet BJP's central leaders to discuss redistribution of cabinet portfolios.

w that four National People's Party (NPP) MLAs have submitted ir letters of support to his ministry to Goverr Najma Heptullah, " temporary political crisis in Manipur is over," he told mediapersons on sidelines of a function for inaugurating a public parking on Naga Turel during day.

rmal functioning of government has started for development of state, he added.

four NPP ministers, whose resignation had plunged BJP-led coalition government into trouble on June 17, submitted a letter backing chief minister to Goverr on Thursday, ending over-a-week-long political turbulence in state.

Though embattled Biren Singh has survived crisis, media reports suggest that restructuring of cabinet will t be an easy task for him.

While four NPP legislators are all set to regain ir position in cabinet, chief minister has to deal with heightened aspirations of some of his BJP legislators to become ministers, besides that of Congress legislators, who had defected to saffron party shortly after last state election in 2017.

Out of seven defecting Congress MLAs, whose cases under anti-defection law were heard by Manipur High Court and Speaker's Tribunal, membership of four have been restored and y even voted in election for lone Rajya Sabha seat in Manipur on June 19. BJP won Rajya Sabha election.

Media reports furr highlighted demand for an additional ministerial berth by ar ally, Naga People's Front (NPF), which stood with saffron party during turmoil.

NPF also has four MLAs in 60-member Manipur House like NPP. It have two cabinet berths at present.

According to constitutional provisions, Manipur can have a maximum of 12 members in cabinet, including chief minister.

Prior to resignations, re were six ministers from BJP, including CM Biren Singh, four from NPP and two hailed from NPF.

Intervention by Union Home minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Naddan salvd BJP government which had been put on a sticky wicket following withdrawal of support by nine ruling coalition members, including four NPP legislators, three BJP rebels, one All India Trinamool Congress MLA and an Independent on June 17.