Meghalaya's political drama comes to an end

Shillong, June 15 (UNI) The month-long political drama in the Congress party ended today after the induction of Mr J D Rymbai as Chief Minister of Meghalaya replacing Mr D D Lapang.

The drama reached its crescendo on June 5 when at least 17 rebel Congress legislators did not attend the crucial cabinet meeting at the residence of Mr Lapang to discuss the issue of ministry reshuffle.

Mr Lapang, who sensed he may not be enjoying the majority, hinted to newspersons that he would step down and the new CLP leader would be his trusted-aide.

However, the cabinet meeting was attended by Mr Lapang's cabinet colleague, Speaker Martin N Danggo, Deputy Speaker PW Muktieh, Union Minister in-charge DoNER PR Kyndiah, Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president Onwardly Nongtdu and former Chief Minister Salseng C Marak.

On the other hand, the 17 rebel MLAs had a separate meeting and faxed a letter to AICC president Sonia Gandhi to replace Mr Lapang with Mr Rymbai as the new CLP leader.

Union Minister P R Kyndiah, who was in the state capital, refused to term the demand of ''change of leadership'' as a serious crisis.

As the crisis in the Congress deepened, MPCC president Onwardly Nongtdu took up the matter with the Congress High Command to defuse the situation. But the 17 rebel legislators did not change their stand on the leadership issue.

On June 10, the AICC president party secretary in-charge Meghalaya Maj (retd) Ved Prakash to the state capaital for on-spot-study of the political situation in the state.

Maj. Prakash wanted to meet the legislators' individually to read their minds but it could not materialise as the dissident MLAs insisted that he meet them in a group.

Two days later, AICC observer in-charge of North East and Union Minister Oscar Fernandez arrived here to attend the crucial CLP meeting, which was attended by all Congress 27 MLAs including Chief Minister DD Lapang and his trusted aide Mr Ryambi. Speaker Martin M Danggo and Deputy Speaker PW Muktieh, stayed away from the meeting.

The meeting decided to entrust Congress president Sonia Gandhi to take a final decision on the change of leadership.

Mr Rymbai faxed a message on June 13 to AICC president Sonia Gandhi saying that he was ready to take over the mantle from Mr Lapang in the interest of the party and the state as a whole.

Mr Lapang was summoned to 10 Janpath to discuss the issue face to face with Ms Gandhi, Mr Fernandez and others. It was here that Mr Lapang offered the post to J D Rymbai informing the AICC president that he was ready to step down.

Mr J D Rymbai was today elected the new CLP leader in the presence of Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Union Minister for Statistics Oscar Fernandez and Mr D D Lapang.

UNI RRK TJP MSJ BD2337