Rymbai is rebel camp's choice to replace Lapang; Sonia informed

Shillong, June 6 (UNI) Dissident Congress MLAs in Meghalaya late last night chose Mr J D Rymbai, a close ally of Chief Minister D D Lapang and Parliamentary Minister in the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, as leader of the CLP and informed AICC president Sonia Gandhi.

However, Mr Rymbai this morning told UNI that he was not aware of the development. ''I am in the other camp (on Mr Lapang's side),'' he said.

''No one came to tell me this,'' said the state Parliamentary Minister, who represents Jiran assembly seat in Ri-Bhoi district.

Incidentally, Mr Lapang is the MLA from Nongpoh in the same district.

At least 17 Congress legislators out of 29 in the 60-member state assembly last night refused to attend the official CLP meeting held at Mr Lapang's residence and instead assembled at CLP secretary Charles Pyngrope's place. The rebel camp accused the Chief Minister of ''failing'' to deliver the goods and asked him to step down owning moral responsibility.

According to Congress sources, AICC member Oscar Fernandes, in-charge of Meghalaya affairs, is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow to work out a compromise formula.

''We have faxed our choice of new leader at 0100 hours today to the high command,'' a rebel MLA from Garo Hills told UNI this morning.

''Mr Lapang has already said he will go by the majority and abide by the high command's instruction...in that case he (Mr Lapang) will have to step down,'' he asserted.

The source claimed that though last night 17 MLAs were present at Mr Pyngrope's residence, the dissident group comprised Speaker Martin M Danggo and Mr J D Rymbai.

''In our original list of signatures, Mr Rymbai also figured,'' he claimed.

Last night it was an open revolt against Mr Lapang, when majority of Congress MLAs demanded a change in leadership and threatened to elect a new CLP leader soon.

Reacting to the sudden turn of events, Mr Lapang said he was ready to step down if the party high command desired so.

Going by the arithmetic, the rebellion might prove fatal to the present Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, but political observers here feel the dissidence was likely to fizzle out once the AICC observer arrives here tomorrow.

The Lapang-led MDA coaltion comprising Congress (29), United Democratic Party (8), Meghalaya Democratic Party (4), Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (2) and Hills State People's Democratic Party (2) has overcome two such major crises, particularly after downsizing of the council of ministers following a Supreme Court order.

So far the CM's group apparently comprised Mr J D Rymbai, Ms Debora Marak, Mr Friday Lyngdoh, Mr H D R Lyngdoh, Mr Brening A Sangma, Mr Sayeedullah Nongrum, Mr Zenith Sangma, Mr Sitlang Pale.

Besides, Speaker M M Danggo and Deputy Speaker P W Muktieh were also present at the CLP meeting last night.

Union DONER Minister P R Kyndiah and former MPCC president S C Marak attended the meeting at Mr Lapang's residence.

The rebel group's parallel meeting at Mr Pyngrope's residence in defiance of the offical CLP meeting, was attended by Mr R G Lyngdoh, Mr K K Dkhar, Mr Boldness Nongrum, Ms Irene Lyngdoh, Mr Manirul Islam Sarkar, Mr Tony Curtis Lyngdoh, Mr E D Marak, Mr Nehlang Lyngdoh, Mr Prestone Tynsong, Mr Sengran Sangma, Mr Beckster K Sangma, Mr Samuel Sangma, Mr Tonsing Marak, Mr Clement R Marak and Mr Nidhurm Hajong.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Mukul Manda Sangma was conspicuous by his absence in both the camps. The former Deputy Chief Minister is at present camping in Garo Hills.

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