Steps taken to sort out Meghalaya's political crisis

Shillong, Jun 10 (UNI) Terming the change of leadership in Meghalaya as not a ''serious one'', AICC secretary in-charge Meghalaya Maj Ved Prakash today said all steps had been taken to sort out the issue.

However, the AICC leader refused to explain the formula to resolve the political turmoil.

Maj Prakash was rushed to this state capital after at least 20 Congress MLAs informed AICC president Sonia Gandhi to replace Chief Minister DD Lapang with Meghalaya Parliamentary Affairs Minister JD Rymbai.

Union Minister Oscar Fernandez's sceduled visit here on June 12, the day fixed for the crucial Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting.

Maj Prakash who reached here late this evening with a mission to defuse the political turmoil in the Congress party held closed door meeting with the sixteen Congress dissident MLAs and Mr Lapang and his at Hotel Pine Wood.

The AICC Secretary in charge Meghalaya met the rebel Congress MLAs and Chief Minister DD Lapang separately to listened to their views on the political crisis.

A tired Maj Prakash after the meeting with Mr Lapang and his Cabinet colleagues and Meghjalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president Onwardly Nongtdu said, ''I have listened patiently to both sides and would resolve the matter in three-days time''.

'' We have decided to meet again tomorrow to sort out the issue, '' said Maj Prakash.

Mr Lapang in his meeting with Maj Prakash which lasted for nearly two hours said the dissident group have demanded to replace him with his trusted-aide mainly because of some dissident MLAs are aspiring for a ministerial berth.

However, the rebel Congress MLAs informed the AICC leader on their stand to change the leadership in the state while accusing Mr Lapang failure in all aspects.

'' We told him that we do not repose faith in the leadership of Mr Lapang and decided not to compromise with our demand, '' said Beckstar K Sangma one the rebel MLA.

With the dissident Congress MLAs maintaining their tough stand on the issue, Congress party sources said the political turmoil would be sorted out only after the crucial CLP meet.

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