MSCP to pull out of NDA

IMPHAL, February 9: In a new twist of the present political situation in the State, the MSCP which is a partner of the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre has decided to withdraw from the alliance tonight. The move followed the remarks of BJP national secretary PB Acharya and Samata Party national president Jaya Jaitley favouring President's rule in the State. The decision to withdraw from the NDA was taken during a meeting of the ruling MSCP Legislature Party held at the official residence of the Chief Minister and MSCP president W Nipamacha Singh. Nipamacha presided over the meeting. It may be noted that the lone MSCP MP Thounaojam Chaoba Singh is the Union Minister of State for Food Processing. Chaoba is also the working president of the party. Sources said that the meeting strongly condemned the remarks of PB Acharya and Jaya Jaitley, which were made yesterday during separate press conferences in Imphal. The two leaders had demanded imposition of President's rule in the State and also criticised the Nipamacha Government for setting up a camp of ruling Ministers inside the Chief Minister's bungalow. The meeting charged the two national leaders, whose parties are also constituent partners in the NDA alliance with making negative statements against the MSCP which is also a partner of the NDA at the Centre. Their demand for imposition of PR has outraged the United Front Government, which is having full majority in the House, the source said. The source further said that the meeting also unanimously agreed to recommend the decision for discussion at the MSCP party level. Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of the UF Legislature Party which also met tonight deliberated in detail on the situation arising out of the non-convening of the Assembly session by the Speaker. A member of the UF Legislature group said that the Governor might exercise his power to make the Deputy Speaker call the session in the event of the Speaker's failure to do so.