Small parties acquire importance in power equation

Imphal, March 01: Although the Congress led Secular Progressive Front, SPF, is set to form the next government, there is still no assurance of a hiccup free passage. The 9-member SPF steering committee meeting today could not arrive at any conclusive decision as to how the front should proceed and another meeting of the committee is scheduled for tomorrow morning. There seems no trouble so far, but the number balance is so precarious that any of the major constituents can seriously rock and even capsize the SPF boat. The total strength of the front is at the moment 36 and can still be held at ransom by any party with six or more MLAs. The Congress and the MSCP, with 20 and 7 MLAs each have the potential for this. Should the MSCP decide to walk over to the BJP-FPM camp for instance, the two camps would be balanced at 29 MLAs each, provided the two MLAs of the Democratic People's Party, DPP remain neutral and the MNC's single remains put where he is. Hence by default, the significance of the small parties in the present scenario, has suddenly taken a quantum leap. Perhaps sensing its new importance, the DPP, today has spoken out and stated categorically that it does not believe in camp culture, and it will not be a party to any move by any bloc for the sake of power. DPP president Khaidem Mani, in a statement, reiterated that any decision on whether to take part in the ministry making process or to sit in the opposition will be guided by the party's principles, including not compromising the territorial integrity of the state and the unity of the people, revocation of the disturbed area status under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, and mandatory consultation of the party on major issues affecting Manipur.