Imphal, March 12: Though the CPI and the Congress, both partners in the SPF ruling coalition Government, have not been able to work out a consensus formula in the Inner Parliamentary Constituency, the two partners have agreed to project the Congress candidate in the Outer Constituency as the consensus choice of the SPF.

In a last ditch effort to work out a consensus formula for the forthcoming Lok Sabha election, a meeting of the Congress and the CPI was held this evening at the office of the Chief Minister.

The meeting which was presided by the Chief Minister was attended by Works Minister Gaikhangam and Commerce and Industries Minister Th Debendra from the Congress' side while the CPI was represented by the party's State secretary B Sharma, PCS Minister and CPI Legislature wing leader Ph Parij at and its control commission chairman L Ibohal.

During the meeting the Communist leaders are understood to have appealed to the Congress to back the CPI candidate as the consensus choice of the SPF in the Inner while it (CPI) will leave the Outer turf free to the Congress.

However the Congress made it clear that they would be nominating its candidates in the two Parliamentary seats and could not accommodate the suggestions of the CPI.

Instead the Congress advocated a friendly contest with the CPI in the election.

The Communist party asked the Congress to support Dr Nara as the consensus choice of the SPF in the Inner seat.

The Congress however shied away from giving any commitments to the proposal of the CPI.

Even though it is as yet not clear who will get the Congress tickets, it was agreed that the Congress candidate in the Outer seat would be projected as the consensus candidate of the SPF.

Despite the failure to work out a consensus formula in the Inner seat, both the parties agreed to work together to strengthen the SPF Government.

Leaders of the two parties agreed that the SPF Government was formed in the interest of the State and that has nothing to do with the upcoming Lok Sabha election.