Maliki government in Iraq is once again in a spot of bother, as another important group of the leading political alliance has announced its withdrawal from the government.
The followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr are all set to withdraw from Iraq’s ruling political alliance after spokesman of the party in a news conference at Sadr’s headquarters in the southern city of Najaf has declared the departure of the group from Iraq’s governing Shia alliance. Sadr spokesman Salah al-Obeidi, asserted,
We will leave the prime minister’s alliance and work from now on alone within the parliament.
This isn’t for the first time that an allied group is separating itself from the Maliki alliance. Early in the year, the Fadhila Party pulled out from the government in March. However, the latest move by the Sadr’s followers possibly came in reaction to the formation of a new alliance by Maliki’s Dawa party and the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council with two Kurdish political groups.
Though, the situation doesn’t look too critical at this point of time, but the latest move is certainly a significant development in Iraqi political corridor, for the recent shift will take away about 30 votes from Maliki’s coalition. And not to forget that it was largely because of Mr. Sadr’s support that Nouri Maliki became the Prime Minister of Iraq.
This bold decision by Moqtada al-Sadr, to withdraw from the ruling alliance, there is every possibility that the latest extraction will end up in a separate alliance between the Sadrists and the Fadhila bloc in opposition to the Maliki’s coalition government.
Earlier, allegations of not performing according to the expectations of its so-called master (the US) at different fronts, and now loosing its close as well as major allies at intervals have questioned the leading abilities of the Iraqi PM.
However, before taking all out on Nouri al-Maliki for mismanagement and chaotic circumstances, one must not forget that he is working in the most extreme conditions across the world.
