NEW DELHI, May 12: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI-M and the Communist Party of India (CPI), which are the constituents of the United Front today demanded the resignation of Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav saying the judiciary would put to test the charges against him in the fodder scam.

In separate statements, CPI-M general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet and CPI leader D Raja said it was not for the governor to decide on the merits of the charges levelled against Yadav by the CBI.

Surjeet criticised Bihar Governor A R Kidwai for openly attacking the Central Bureau of Investigation on its going to the press in its decision to chargesheet Yadav in the Fodder scam. While the CPM began its three-day central committe meeting here the CPI held its national executive meeting today.

All top leaders of the CPM, including West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu and Kerala Chief Minister E K Nayanar, attended the meeting.

The meeting is likely to debate the party programme and its relevance in the current political scenario, party sources said.

The debate assumes significance in the wake of Basu's remarks about CPI (M) not joining the UF Government at the centre as a `Himalayan blunder.''The Central committee had earlier overruled the politburo line of joining the UF Government.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.