Senior members of the center-left People's Party sought Tuesday to defuse a growing rift over the possibility of a merger with a conservative party, saying the time is not yet right for talks on the issue.

The cracks within the party have been widening as its chief, Ahn Cheol-soo, seeks to join forces with the minor opposition Bareun Party to bolster his party's legislative presence, despite concerns that the two parties cannot work together due to their different ideological roots and support bases.

"Senior members' views are that now is not the time for talks on a merger with the Bareun Party," Kim Dong-cheol, the party whip, told reporters after holding a breakfast meeting with four party colleagues.

"We can think of policy cooperation, and if this proceeds successfully, we can then think of cooperation in future elections. We have converged on the view that after all this, when conditions are met, a merger could be pushed for," he added.

Kim also noted that Ahn shared this view, too.

Intense opposition to the possible merger comes from a group of party lawmakers associated with late former President Kim Dae-jung, as the Bareun Party opposes Kim's signature "Sunshine Policy" of unconditionally engaging with North Korea and has little support in the liberal stronghold of the southwestern Honam region.

Some of them even hinted at the possibility of defecting from the party.

"We have to inherit and further develop the Sunshine Policy and establish a country where there is no discrimination against the Honam region," Park Jie-won, former party chief, said in a radio interview.

"If these conditions are not met, there would be serious limits on how I could maneuver," he added. His remarks were largely seen as an indication that he could leave the party if the merger with the conservative party materializes.

Talk of the merger comes as the Bareun Party itself is split over its future course of action.

Some party members have sought a tie-up with the main opposition Liberty Korea Party. Others have explored different options, such as merging with the People's Party or becoming a new conservative alternative. (Yonhap)