Imphal, August 06: In the face of growing pressures from within the MLAs of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) for removal of CPI from SPF consequent to Left parties withdrawing support to the Congress led UPA Government at the Centre and other reasons, CPI said it would resign from SPF within 24 hours if it has been asked do so formally.

According to inside sources of Congress, Congress MLAs have given strong pressures on the Chief Minister that CPI should resign from the SPF Government in the light that Left parties have withdrawn support to the UPA Government at the Centre over the issue of Nuclear deal and the subsequent support to the Opposition during the vote of confidence.

Consequently, the matter has generated discussion within the Congress party if not formally.

As of now, there has been no formal discussion as such between the two parties.

So the Chief Minister or the AICC has not given any instruction nor from the side of the National leaders of the CPI in this regard.

Talking to The Sangai Express in connection with the growing fissure between the Congress and CPI, a prominent leader of CPI pointed out that even before formation of UPA Government at the Centre, Congress and CPI formed the SPF Govt and have already completed the first fiveyear term and the second five-year term is running.

Nonetheless, if the MPCC or the Chief Minister officially ask CPI to resign from SPF Government, then CPI would not hesitate from resiging without any delay within 24 hours.

However, Congress MLAs contended that after all that has been witnessed, CPI ought to resign itself from the SPF Government without any further ado.

While disclosing that the pressures on the Chief Minister for removing CPI from being a partner of the SPF Government is mounting more from the side of the MLAs in the dissident group who see a golden chance of fulfilling the assurance given to them of Ministerial berths, the inside source maintained that there would not be much problem if the CPI parted way as Congress with the strength of 31 MLAs can stand on its own.

The present position of the party and their MLAs are Congress-31, CPI-4, RJD-3, MPP-4, NCP-3 and Independent-10 .

Over and above the total 35 MLAs, 31 of Congress and 4 of CPI, in the ruling SPF Government, three MLAs of RJD are also extending support to the Government.

Taking advantage of the prevailing political situation, RJD has also started speaking up for its due rights and its State Unit president W Nipamacha has formally written to National president Lalu Prasad as well as to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh pressurising for removal of CPI and including RJD in the Steering Committee of the SPF.

Inspite of all these political developments, political analysts, however, felt that the Chief Minister is not likely to take a decision on removal of CPI from SPF Government in consideration of various factors including long years of coalition partnership on one hand, and the possible revolt among the dissident Congress MLAs if any of them were left out in installing in the vacant Ministerial posts in case the CPI has to make an exit.

So, the Chief Minister is definitely in a tricky situation, the source observed.

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