Imphal, Sep 03: Alleging that the conditional approach of the Federal Party of Manipur to the integration of regional parties was unreasonable, MPP has decided not to suspend its existing office bearers, informed a spokesman of the party.

He noted that there is no provision for dissolution of incumbent office bearers in the constitution of MPP and the party president is not empowered to dissolve the party office bearers.

If the office bearers are to be suspended under certain conditions, it needs approval from at least 95 percent of the party executives starting from the Assembly Constituency level, he said.

Questioning as to who would run the party and under whom the new members would be admitted if the existing office bearers are suspended, the spokesman said there are doubts whether some groups are deliberately trying to abolish the oldest regional party in the State in the name of regional parties' unification.

Refuting the report that the FPM special general assembly had resolved to dissolve the party, he contended that there is no provision in its constitution to dissolve the party in such a manner.

If it happens to dissolve itself, the Election Commission should be intimated that the party has been merged with MPP.

Concerning the merger of FPM with MPP, further process would be initiated only when the impasse between the organisation and MLAs within FPM is resolved, the spokesman disclosed.

Conveying the stand of the party to maintain the identity of MPP as best as it could, he observed there is no other way for FPM members to uphold the identity of MPP other than merging itself with MPP.

He noted that unification of regional parties would take time even though the Assembly election is fast approaching.

The spokesman, however, acknowledged that a meeting of the MPP central committee had welcomed the decision of FPM to join MPP adding that the same would be forwarded to the Preparatory Committee.

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