Koijam forms jumbo team to buy peace with allies

By Our Correspondent

IMPHAL, FEB. 25. The Manipur Chief Minister, Mr. Radhabinod Koijam, was forced to have the biggest-ever Council of Ministers to preempt attempts at wresting leadership from him.

After a series of political permutations and combinations, Mr. Koijam emerged the leader of the 12-member Samata Party and head of the People's Front formed by seven parties, including the BJP. He was sworn in Chief Minister on February 15. But, he could form his Ministry only on Friday by inducting 33 Ministers. This is the biggest-ever Ministry in the 60-member Assembly which has an effective membership of 59.

Mr. Koijam submitted the list of new Ministers to the Governor, Mr. Ved Prakash Marwah, on February 16. But other coalition partners called on the Governor and urged him to reject the list, saying Mr. Koijam had not taken them into confidence. If he did not accommodate the MLAs recommended by them, they would withdraw from the Front. The Chief Minister had no alternative but to take the leaders of his coalition partners to New Delhi for consultation.

Mr. Koijam had indicated earlier that his Ministry would be ``medium-sized'' and ``compact.'' So, it came as a surprise to many when he inducted 33 Ministers. What is more, he told presspersons that he would further expand the Ministry. He explained that in the 59-member House, he enjoyed the support of 57 MLAs and was entitled to have more Ministers. Speculation is that he will increase the size to 45.

Political observers feel he inducted members from the six other parties only to preempt topple moves. There were silent attempts by some parties to join the six-member BJP and stake claim for power. But, in a swift move, he made most of the members Cabinet Ministers. For instance, out of six BJP MLAs, five have been made Ministers and the leader, Mr. R. K. Dorendra, is the only one left out.

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