Imphal, April 25: Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh today inducted two cabinet ministers and elevated a minister of state to cabinet rank at a simple function at Imphal Raj Bhavan this afternoon.

Former Speaker T.N. Haokip, and former minister of state D.K. Korungthang took oath as the new cabinet ministers while minister of state for veterinary and minorities and backward classes, Md Alauddin, was promoted to the rank of a cabinet minister.

The reshuffle followed the resignation of two cabinet ministers, power and information minister Gaikhangam and food and civil supplies minister Ngamthang Haokip, yesterday. The ministers had resigned on the ?advice? of Ibobi Singh.The strength of the Secular Progressive Front ministry was 12, including Ibobi Singh, before the resignations. The strength remains the same as the size of Manipur ministry was fixed at 12 in a 60-member House.

This could be the last reshuffle for the Ibobi Singh ministry, the term of which ends in March next year.

Ibobi Singh, however, parried a direct reply when asked whether this reshuffle could really be the last.

Gaikhangam?s resignation was due since last year following his appointment as president of the Manipur PCC by the party high command.

Party workers had been piling pressure on the chief minister to replace Gaikhangam with another minister on the grounds that his dual posts were hampering his organisational activities.

Haokip stepped down from the post of Speaker last year after Ibobi Singh promised him a ministerial berth.