Lapang goes to Delhi after Sonia's summon

Shillong, June 14 (UNI) Beleaguered Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang today left for New Delhi after he was summoned by Congress president Sonia Gandhi for discussions following demands for his ouster by rebel Congress MLAs.

Mr Lapang rushed to New Delhi this afternoon after Congress Working Committee member Oscar Fernandes last evening called on Ms Gandhi and briefed her on the poltical crisis arising out of the demand for a ''change of leadership'' by at least 20 Congress MLAs.

Mr Fernandes was here recently as an emissary of Ms Gandhi.

Last night, Meghalaya Parliamentary Affairs Minister J D Rymbai, who was chosen their leader by the dissident group had faxed to Ms Gandhi informing her that he was ready to take over the mantle from Mr Lapang.

Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president Onwardly Nongtdu said the AICC president had summoned Mr Lapang for consultation before taking any decision to resolve the crisis within the party.

However, sources close to the Chief Minister said, Mr Lapang had been called mainly to brief her on the ''fluid Meghalaya politics''.

Sources also said that the AICC president was not happy at all with the present political turmoil in the state created by the rebel Congress MLA's.

Mr Fernandes who was here on June 12 to take stock of the situation informed Ms Gandhi about the demand by the dissident MLAs to replace Mr Lapang with Mr Rymbai.

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