I am ready to shoulder responsibility: Rymbai

Shillong, June 6 (UNI) The choice of rebel Congress MLAs to replace Chief Minister D D Lapang, J D Rymbai today said he was ready to shoulder responsibility if party president Sonia Gandhi asked him to do so.

However, Mr Rymbai a trusted aide of Mr Lapang who is also the parlimentary affairs minister, maintained that he along with other Congress ministers still reposed faith in the present leadership in the state.

Last night, at least 17 Congress legislators in Meghalaya suggested the name of Mr Rymbai to the AICC leadership as their new CLP leader.

The rebel group said they had lost faith in the leadership of Chief Minister D D Lapang after he ''failed'' to deliver in all round development of the state.

''The matter is serious. Delhi is keping a close watch and I will abide by the AICC command,'' he told UNI here.

Mr Rymbai also hinted that senior Congress leaders from the Centre would soon rush to the state to sort out the sudden crisis.

Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister Sayeedulah Nongrum claimed that even the AICC was still confident Mr Lapang's leadership to lead the multi-coalition Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA).

''AICC won't give in to such pressure tactics or every now and then such dissidence would be used as a ploy to gain political mileage,'', Mr Nongrum said.

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