A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a plurality of cartridges are detachably mounted to form a color image on a recording medium, the plurality of cartridges each having at least either one of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum or a developing roller, the color electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position of a main body of the apparatus and an outside position of the main body in a state of detachably supporting the plurality of cartridges having cartridge side electric contacts and cartridge side positioned portions, the cartridge supporting member moving among (i) a first position where the plurality of cartridges are located at an image forming position at which the plurality of cartridges form images at the inside position, (ii) a second position where the plurality of cartridges are retracted from the first position at the inside position, and (iii) a third position where the plurality of cartridges are pulled from the main body and are located at the outside position; and main body side electric contacts on the main body for the plurality of cartridges, respectively, wherein the main body further includes an opening portion through which the cartridge supporting member is moved from the second position to the third position, and an openable and closable member provided on the main body for opening and closing the opening portion, wherein, in association with a closing operation of closing the opening portion by the openable and closable member, the cartridge supporting member is moved from the second position to the first position and the main body side electric contacts are connected to the cartridge side electric contacts, characterized in that in association with an opening operation of opening the opening portion by the openable and closable member, the main body side electric contacts are retracted in a longitudinal direction of the cartridges being an axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum or the developing roller and the cartridge supporting member is moved from the first position to the second position. a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position of a main body of the apparatus and an outside position of the main body in a state of detachably supporting the plurality of cartridges having cartridge side electric contacts and cartridge side positioned portions, the cartridge supporting member moving among (i) a first position where the plurality of cartridges are located at an image forming position at which the plurality of cartridges form images at the inside position, (ii) a second position where the plurality of cartridges are retracted from the first position at the inside position, and (iii) a third position where the plurality of cartridges are pulled from the main body and are located at the outside position; and main body side electric contacts on the main body for the plurality of cartridges, respectively, wherein the main body further includes an opening portion through which the cartridge supporting member is moved from the second position to the third position, and an openable and closable member provided on the main body for opening and closing the opening portion, wherein, in association with a closing operation of closing the opening portion by the openable and closable member, the cartridge supporting member is moved from the second position to the first position and the main body side electric contacts are connected to the cartridge side electric contacts, characterized in that in association with an opening operation of opening the opening portion by the openable and closable member, the main body side electric contacts are retracted in a longitudinal direction of the cartridges being an axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum or the developing roller and the cartridge supporting member is moved from the first position to the second position.