BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Rajagriha, 1 July 2022: Owing to personal reasons, Union Environment and Natural Resources Minister of State (Independent Charge) Rey Jr. Mancio tendered his resignation from the union cabinet on 30 June 2022 which was later accepted by the Rashtradhyaksh. In a press release issued from the royal bureau, it said:
The Rashtradhyaksh has accepted the resignation of Shri Rey Jr. Mancio as a Minister of State for the Union with immediate effect.
Rey Jr. Mancio, who is considered as a close confidante of Prime Minister Farhaz Hazarika was once tipped to become a cabinet minister earlier last month during the cabinet reshuffle which witnessed Rafe Burfield being promoted as a cabinet minister. Apart from being the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, he also held the charge of the Minister of State (junior minister) in the Ministries of Education and Finance.
Following his resignation, his portfolios were redistributed among his other cabinet colleagues. In the same press release, it said that the Prime Minister has advised the Rashtradhyaksh to assign the portfolios of Environment and Natural Resources to Senior Minister Prince Abhiraj as an additional portfolio. Prince Abhiraj also holds the charge of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Administration. Meanwhile, the portfolios of Kevin Doan and Andrew Brotherton have been reshuffled. Doan, who serves as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Communications and Media & Minister of State for Defence and Parliamentary Affairs has been relieved of his charge in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and appointed as Minister of State for Education in addition to all his existing portfolios. In addition, Andrew Brotherton who serves as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Health, Citizens' Welfare and Population and Minister of State for Social Welfare, Religious Affairs and Minority Welfare has been appointed as the Minister of State for Finance and Parliamentary Affairs in addition to his existing independent portfolio.
Rey Jr. Mancio, a first-time MP was elected to the parliament in a by-election in December last year and was once considered to be the Speaker of the Parliament. However, following his declination to serve as the speaker, months later he was appointed as a Minister in February this year. He was appointed as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Sports and Youth Affairs, and the Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture. He was appointed as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Statistics in a cabinet reshuffle in mid-February. During the reforms period which lasted between March and May this year, he was removed from the union cabinet but was re-appointed to the third cabinet of Prime Minister Farhaz Hazarika which took over in May this year.