Rymbai sends fax message to Sonia

Shillong, June 13 (UNI) Meghalaya Minister in-charge for Parliamentary Affairs J D Rymbai tonight faxed a letter to AICC president Sonia Gandhi informing her that he is ready to take over the mantle from Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang.

In a faxed message to Ms Gandhi this evening, Mr Rymbai, said ''he had the support of 17 Congress MLAs to take over the helm of affairs from Mr Lapang''.

The veteran Congress legislator, who officially joined hands with the dissident group, told UNI here that he had ''accepted'' to be the ''chosen leader'' of the Congress Legislature Party in the state.

''I have accepted their offer as they repose faith in me'', said Mr Rymbai adding that he does not want to ''betray'' them.

The senior Congress leader said he had taken this decision after majority of the Congress legislators in the CLP meeting last night repose faith in him.

Late last night, Congress Working Committee member and Union Minister Oscar Fernandes said the new leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in the state would be decided by Ms Gandhi.

Mr Fernandes was rushed to the state capital 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.

Mr Fernandes said Ms Gandhi would decide the new leader of the CLP before the extended state's Budget session scheduled to commence from June 16.

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