Congress wants to part ways with CPI in Manipur

Congress, major partner of the ruling Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government in Manipur, was considering to part ways with junior partner CPI, party sources said today.

Sources said that an informal meeting of party leaders, including Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, state unit president Gaikhangam and some MLAs, yesterday discussed the modalities of dropping CPI from the SPF government but a final decision on the issue was yet to be taken.

The state party leaders, now camping in New Delhi for the government formation exercise at the Centre, would pressurise central leaders to allow dropping of CPI from the SPF coalition, they said.

While Congress has a clear majority in the 60-member Manipur assembly with 31 MLAs, CPI has four members in the house. Manipur Medical minister and senior CPI leader Parijat was the lone representative in the SPF cabinet.

CPI sources, however, said they were neither informed by the Congress to leave the ministry nor the party (CPI) took any decision to part ways with the ruling coalition.

Opposition's strength is 25 which includes Manipur People's Party (five), RJD (three), NCP (four), National People's Party ( three) and Independents (10).