CPI sets eye on Speaker's post

Imphal, March 02: Even though Governor Ved Marwah has invited the Secular Progressive Front, SPF to form the next government, the constituent partners of the SPF are yet to decided on the post of Deputy Chief Minister and Speaker. Sources said that the CPI is keen on the post of Speaker but the Congress too wants the same as it is the larget party in the Assembly. A prominent front member said that if the CPI is awarded with the Speaker?s post then chances of defection will go down as the CPI is a disciplined party which has no record of major defections amongst its members. This will ensure stability, said the source. A senior Congress member had turned down the offer of the post of the Speaker, he added. This had led to the present predicament over choosing the man for the Speaker?s post and also deciding which constituent party should be awarded with the Speaker post. There are no major difference over the post of Deputy Chief Minister as all the constituent parties are not averse to the idea of the post going to the Congress as it has the largest number of MLAs. However there are two senior Congress members who have set their eyes on the post and this may necessitate some adjustments within the party. The SPF is likely to discuss these points during its meeting slated for late evening today.