Congress allies to discuss Meghalaya political development

Shillong, June 14 (UNI) The Congress allies in Meghalaya would soon meet to discuss the overall political development after AICC leaders and Chief Minister DD Lapang sought the support of Nationalist Congress Party leader Purno A Sangma.

The Congress has 29 MLAs in Meghalaya and is supported by four regional political parties --United Democratic Party (8), Meghalaya Democratic Party (4), Hills State People's Democratic Party(2) and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement(2) in a House of 60.

The UDP, the main ally of the ruling Congress led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, has decided to take stock of the situation following the Congress party seeking support from its rival party- NCP.

''We will soon sit and discuss the political development in the state'', Deputy Chief Minister and UDP president Dr Donkupar Roy said today.

The UDP president said he would also call on Mr Lapang to know the mind of the Congress for seeking support from the NCP.

''We will stand by our committment to support the Congress,'' said the UDP leader, adding, ''if the Congress is not confident with us we have nothing to say but to review our support to the Congress''.

However, the MDP has come out strongly against the Congress for seeking support from the main opposition NCP (9) without consulting any of its MDA partners.

''We will stick to our commitments as long as the Congress repose faith with its allies'', said MDP president and Social Welfare Minister Martle N Mukhim.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and senior UDP leader Evansius Kek Mawlong termed the sudden rush of Congress Working Committee member Oscar Fernandez, Chief Minister DD Lapang and others as having 'lost faith' with the dissident Congress MLAs.

Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement president and MLA Paul Lyngdoh said he would convene an emergency party meeting to review the present political scenario.

Congress Working Committee member and Union Minister Oscar Fernandez, Meghalaya Chief Minister DD Lapang, Maj (retd) Ved Prakash and Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president Onwardly Nongtdu yesterday morning rushed to former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP leader Purno A Sangma's residence to ''ensure political stability'' in the present coalition.

The former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP MP said he had extended his party's outside support to the Congress to prevent ''dissolution of the House'' in the wake of the leadership crisis in the Congress party.

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