Political crisis to ''strengthen'' Congress, Marak

Shillong, Jun 8 (UNI) Terming the political crisis in the Congress as to ''strengthen'' the party, vice-president of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee and Congress legislator Tonsing Marak today said the move by the rebel Congress legislators was not to split the party.

Talking to UNI here, Mr Marak said Chief Minister D D Lapang must immediately step down in order to strengthen the party at the grassroot level in the state.

He said even the Congress activists have lost faith in the leadership of Mr Lapang after the latter indulged in ''false promises''.

'' We are not happy at all with the manipulative activities of Mr Lapang, '' said the MPCC vice-president poiting out that Mr Lapang had failed to perform in all round development.

Mr Marak made it clear that the present move made by the Congress rebel group was not to split the Congress, but to strengthen the party.

Accusing Mr Lapang of making his own Legislators to fight among themselves, the veteran Congress Legislator from Songsak constituency in Garo Hills said even some of the Ministers had expressed concern with Mr Lapang's ''manipulative activities''.

'' He is making his opwn family ( Cong MLA's) to fight against each other to remain in the hot seat, '' Mr Marak said.

The Congress Legislator maintained that the political turmoil would be resolved only if Mr Lapang ''gracefully'' stepped down to pave way to a new leader.

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