Manipur Dy CM stripped of all portfolios for terming CM’s promises as “hogwash”, “gibberish”
Imphal, April 9 :
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Thursday stripped all the portfolios from Deputy Chief Minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh of the National People's Party (NPP) over rice distribution to the poor people under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The sudden political upheaval came after the Manipur government spokesperson and BJP legislator S Rajen challenged the four NPP ministers to quit the ministry if they are unhappy with Biren's leadership.
Biren has taken over the charge of portfolios held by Joykumar following an official order to this effect issued by Chief Secretary J. Suresh Babu late in the evening.
In addition to his existing portfolios, the Chief Minister will take the charge of Municipal Administration, Housing & Urban Development, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Science and Technology and Economic and Statistics, earlier held by Joykumar.
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Joykumar had allegedly described the Chief Minister's assurance of food security during the lockdown as "hogwash" and "gibberish", saying that the distribution of rice to the poor people during the lockdown period in his Uripok assembly constituency was "not enough".
Terming Joykumar's statement as "irresponsible", Rajen said, "It is very unfortunate for the BJP…. It has crossed the limit for BJP."
"If the allocation is not sufficient enough, he should could have consulted the Chief Minister to buy additional rice and distribute to his people," the BJP legislator said.
Rajen also hit out at another NPP minister, L Jayantakumar Singh who had also allegedly criticised the Chief Minister on rice distribution by BJP candidate R.K.Shivchandra.
In June last year, the Chief Minister had stripped off the Finance portfolio from Joykumar after a financial crisis gripped the state.
After the 2017 Manipur elections, the BJP had formed the government with the support of NPP, Naga People's Front and others.
In the 60-member House which now has an effective strength of 59 after a Congress legislator Thounaojam Shyamkumar Singh, who had defected to the BJP, was disqualified by the Speaker following an order of the Supreme Court, the BJP and its allies together have 37 members.
The NPP and the Naga People's Front have four legislators each.
The opposition Congress have 20 legislators.
