Meinya's name in list of CoMs

Imphal, May 22 : The name of Dr Th Meinya, the re-elected Congress MP from Manipur, has been found included in the list of 65-member Council of Ministers to be sworn-in tomorrow, according to a UNI report.

(See box) However, on being contacted, Dr Meinya told the Hueiyen Lanpao that he has not yet got invitation for swear-in as a minister.

Meanwhile, amidst media reports of talks between Congress and DMK over allocation of ministerial berths to the latter breaking down and the DMK announcing its decision to support the UPA government from outside, Manipur's Congress leaders presently camping in New Delhi have also reportedly begun lobbying for a cabinet berth for one of the three Congress MPs of Manipur.

At present president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), Gaikhangam, Member of Rajya Sabha Rishang Keishing and the two new MPs-elect, Dr Th Meinya and Thangso Baite have been camping in the capital for the past four days.

State Chief Minister O Ibobi has also flown in to Dehi today.

Sources in the MPCC told this newspaper that the Chief Minister along with the other Congress leaders of Manipur will garner support from the national leaders of the party to include one of the three MPs of Manipur in the union cabinet.

The sources further said that since Congress won both seats of the state in the Lok Sabha, besides already having a Congress Member of the Rajya Sabha, Congress has become stronger in the state.

It is all due to the hard and sincere works done by the state government under the Congress leadership and people's trust in the Congress-led government as well as the leadership of Chief Minister O Ibobi that the party could get both the seats in the recent general elections.

Moreover Dr Th Meinya has been elected for the second consecutive term as MP.

Therefore, it is fair that at least one cabinet berth should be given to Manipur, the sources said adding that Dr Meinya deserves that berth.

Hopes are bright and it is most likely that one cabinet berth will be given to the state, the sources said.

It may not be in the first swear-in but in the following swear-in, one MP from the state is expected to be included, the sources said with confidence.