Fernandes seeks Sangma's support; Sangma for "United Congress"

Shillong, June 13 (UNI) In a new twist to the political developments in Meghalaya, Congress Working Committee member and Union Minister Oscar Fernandes today called on Nationalist Congress Party leader Purno Agitok Sangma seeking his support to the dissidence-stricken Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government.

Chief Minister D D Lapang, whose fate now depends on AICC president Sonia Gandhi's decision, Meghalaya Pradseh Congress Committee president Onwardly Nongtdu and AICC secretary in-charge of Meghalaya, Maj (Retd) Ved Prakash, also accompanied Mr Fernandes in a last bid effort to ''ensure political stability'' in the present coaltion.

''Mr Fernandes came to see me at 0830 hrs seeking NCP support,'' Mr Sangma told UNI here today adding his outside support to the government was only to prevent ''disolution of the House''.

Significantly, Mr Sangma said he did not mind forming a ''United Congress'' in Meghalaya.

''If the Congress split, we will review the scene and decide accordingly'', he said.

The veteran Garo political stalwart said he had responded ''positively'' to the visiting Congress leaders with a condition that the Congress party in Meghalaya ''should stand united''.

Asked why he wss concerned about his rival Congress standing united in the state, Mr Sangma said, ''Unity of the congress at present is important for stability of the government. It is not desirable to create a situation that results in dissolution of the House''.

''I have told Mr Fernandes to resolve the leadership crisis at the earliest in the interest of the state and avoid dissolution of the House,'' the former Lok Sabha Speaker said.

Mr Sangma, also former Meghalaya Chief Minister, said he had made it clear to the Congress leaders that his party would extend support to the ''United Congress'' and would try to ensure that personal aspirations did not overshadow state's interest.

Late last night, Mr Fernandes said the new leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Meghalaya would be decided by the Congress high command.

Mr Fernandes was sent to the state after 20 rebel Congress MLAs had asked Ms Gandhi on June 6 to replace Chief Minister D D Lapang with Meghalaya Minister for Parliamentary Affairs J D Rymbai.

Talking to reporters soon after the crucial CLP meeting at Hotel Pine Wood here, Mr Fernandes said 27 Congress legislators out of the total 29 in the 60-member House had unanimously decided to leave the change of leadership to the ''wisdom of Ms Gandhi.'' Mr Fernandes said Ms Gandhi would decide the new leader of the CLP before the extended budget session of the Assembly scheduled to be held on June 16.

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