Imphal, June 29: CPI State Control Commission chairman M Ibohal has stated that the party has nothing to do with bargaining Ministerial berths ahead of the ensuing pruning of the SPF Ministry.

He, however insisted that according to calculations and the strength of the CPI which has five MLAs, two Cabinet berths should be allotted to the party.

Speaking to media-persons at Irawat Bhavan today, Ibohal disclosed that the figure was placed at the recently held SPF Steering Committee meeting.

"We don't need to demand the berths and we are not interested in chasing after the berths", the communist party leader said while clarifying that he along with IFC MoS Th Tomba went to New Delhi only to raise State issues to the Union Home Minister.

On being asked who among the 5 CPI MLAs would occupy the two slots, if the number is approved by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, he said the party will decide accordingly.

On their stint at the national capital, Ibohal informed that he and Tomba met central party leaders including AB Bardhan and T Raja and discussed at length the prevailing issues of the State which were also highlighted to the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil later.

Among others the CPI delegation on June 25 pressed the' Union Minister for necessary action to shift Assam Rifles from Kangla, find solution to the insurgency problem and the huge problem of unemployment of educated youths, he said.

They also insisted upon the Home Minister to initiate raising a Manipur Regiment, Ibohal said adding Shivraj Patil took serious note of all the issues and assured to look into it.

CPI Central Secretariat Member Pramod Gogoi also chipped in that the party is paying maximum attention to bring about peace and development in the North East region particularly Manipur.

On the Kangla issue, Gogoi stated that the matter for shifting Assam Rifles from the sacred Kangla was first initiated by party leader Indrajit Gupta when the latter was the Home Minister in the erstwhile United Front Government.

Rs 46.5 crores was sanctioned by the Centre for construction of alternative cantonment of the Assam Rifles at Maha Koireng, he said while adding that still the party is pressing hard to the Centre to act swiftly on the matter.

Stating that CPI took key role in working out the salient features of North East region in framing the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the present united Progressive Alliance Govt, Gogoi said "We are committed to the programme and that the Centre cannot undermine such points".

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