Unconvinced of the assurance yesterday by Indian Progressive Front president MG Pandithan that the party will continue its struggle, its 'loyalists' have called for the ailing leader's resignation to make way for a 'new' IPF.

Some party loyalists fear that IPF would close shop and merge with its arch-rival, S Samy Vellu's MIC.

Describing IPF's 15th congress yesterday as "a joker's drama", its former secretary-general K Panjamurti said Pandithan's seriousness in preserving the party is belied by the fact of its impending dissolution by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) for failure to submit its audited accounts.

Malaysiakini had earlier reported claims that despite the creation of a RM2.5 million lottery scheme, an insurance scheme, and contributions by party members and supporters for the construction of IPF's headquarters in Sungai Besi, "not once" have financial statements been tabled for debate since 1990.

Possible deregistration

Contacted today, Panjamurti ( photo ) said none of the minutes of the party's annual general meetings from 2005 to 2007 have been submitted to ROS as stipulated by the Societies Act 1966.

"Pandithan has claimed IPF has 380,000 members nationwide. Where is the list of these members?" he said.

Citing a June 1 letter from ROS to the troubled party, Panjamurti said ROS had ordered the submission of the said documents within 30 days.

Failure to abide by the notice within two weeks after the expiry of that date would lead to the temporary suspension of the party, Panjamurti added.

"If they fail to abide by the second notice after that two weeks have elapsed, IPF stands to be dissolved permanently," he said.

Panjamurti said that if Pandithan is so interested in joining BN-component party MIC, he can do so as an individual. That's his right, he said. However, Panjamurti is against IPF merging with its arch-rival.

IPF, which supports the BN coalition, is also in danger of losing its members to the opposition parties, said Panjamurti.

"IPF is like a shelter for Indian BN supporters. We don't want them to run out the shelter into the storm or into the parties of the opposition," he said.

Echoing Panjamurti's comments, former IPF vice-president P Sambath Rao said all of the party's 400 branches which had been registered by 1995 had been dissolved due to failure to submit the 'follow-up' documents to ROS.

IPF as a party will be dissolved unless action is taken immediately, warned Sambath.

New president

A week ago, a group of about 2,000 IPF loyalists and veterans had gathered in Teluk Intan, Perak, demanding for Pandithan's resignation.

They also wanted Pandithan to take responsibility for the current state of disorganisation which may lead to IPF's demise as a party.

They also voted for Panjamurti to lead the interim committee spearheading a 'new' IPF to revive the party, said Sambath.

"We want IPF to continue," he said.

Pandithan, who is in ill health, is running the party with the assistance of V Senggutuan, the former IPF secretary who was promoted to deputy president last year.

Senggutuan could not be reached for comments.