Imphal, March 03: Setting the agenda clear for the CPI, FCS Minister and senior leader of the Communist party, Ph Parijat today said that his party is set to nominate a candidate in the Inner Constituency for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections which is scheduled to be held on April 26.Speaking to newsmen at Irabot Bhawan today, the veteran CPI leader said that his party is ready to go in for a friendly contest with the Congress but added with equal intensity that if the Congress, which is the major partner in the SPF Govt, tries to force the CPI to withdraw from the race, then the Communist party may well consider walking out of the SPF Government.

Ph Parijat said that the CPI is all ready to field Art and Culture Minister Dr M Nara in the Inner Constituency adding that this decision was taken in line with the instructions issued by the Politburo of the CPI.

The decision of the CPI has already been intimated to the MPCC (I) chief O Ibobi who is also the Chief Minister, in writing, added Parijat.

A meeting between the CPI and the Congress was held yesterday to work out the contentious issue of fielding the candidates for the coming Lok Sabha election, informed Parijat.

Apart from himself, NI Singh State secretary of the CPI represented the Communist party while the Congress was represented by Chief Minister O Ibobi, Works Minister Gaikhangam and Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, added Parijat.

The FCS Minister further said that the Congress expressed its desire to field candidates in the two Lok Sabha seats and added that a friendly contest between the two coalition partners will be witnessed in the Inner Constituency.

Spelling out the stand of his party, Parijat said that since the Rajya Sabha MP is a Congress man, the CPI had mooted the idea of leaving the Outer turf to the Congress while the Inner seat be left to the CPI.

As partners in the coalition Government, the Congress ought to have agreed to the proposal of the CPI, he observed.

Giving analysis, Parijat informed the media that the key in the Outer Constituency lies with the three Assembly segments in Thoubal district.

These three ACs are the stronghold of the CPI and the Communist party could have given a solid backing to the Congress candidate if only its proposal was accepted, he added.

To a question, Parijat said that the CPI Politburo is in touch with the AICC high command to work out a consensus formula.

According to a reliable source, the Congress is working over time to decide who to grant the party's ticket for the upcoming elections.

Comment