Imphal, August 10 2009: The State unit of the CPI has brushed aside the report, which appeared in a local daily, that it has decided to withdraw from the SPF coalition.

On the contrary, the Congress and the CPI have decided to continue with the partnership in Government.

Speaking to newsmen after meeting the Chief Minister today, State CPI Secretary L Iboyaima said that the report, which appeared in the daily, was without foundation.

The CPI leader said that the matter has been discussed thoroughly during a meeting between the two parties today and both agreed that the report was without basis.

Any misunderstanding due to the report has been cleared, he added.

As partners in the SPF, the CPI and the Congress are keen to arrive at a political solution to the present impasse, added Iboyaima.

Asserting that the CPI has not taken any decision to withdraw from the SPF, Iboyaima explained that the Secretariat members of the party alone cannot take any decision pertaining to policies and programmes and the politics to be followed.

Such issues have to be discussed at the level of the executive, he added.

Iboyaima however hastened to add, that it would be difficult to predict the future.

Health Minister, Ph Parijat who was also present, said that the question of the CPI withdrawing from the SPF did not at all feature in the meeting with the Chief Minister.

The discussion, during the meeting, centred around the prevailing situation, since the sentiments of the public cannot be simply wished away, he said.

Parijat also mentioned that the State Law Secretary has been sent to meet and request the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to spare a sitting Judge, to head the proposed Judicial Inquiry.

The Judicial Inquiry will probe the July 23 BT Road incident, in which two persons, Ch Sanjit and Th Rabina, were killed while five others were injured.

"The Chief Minister has expressed confidence that the Gauhati High Court will soon name a Judge to head the Judicial Inquiry," said Parijat.

Earlier in the day, before the meeting with the Chief Minister, a meeting of the State Secretariat of the CPI was held at Irabot Bhawan with L Iboyaima in the chair, to discuss the report that the CPI had decided to part ways with the Congress.

Health Minister Ph Parijat and the other CPI MLAs as well as members of the State Secretariat attended the meeting, which discussed in great depth, the prevailing political situation in the State.

After the meeting, a four member team of the CPI, led by L Iboyaima called on the Chief Minister at his office.

The other members included, State Control Commission member L Ibohal, Health Minister Ph Parijat and senior member Sotinkumar.

The Congress was represented by the Chief Minister, Law Minister Th Debendra and Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing.

Significantly senior CPI leader Dr M Nara had earlier resigned from the secretaryship of the Steering Committee of the SPF and the CPI had endorsed his resignation.

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