Lapang continues to lead MDA

Shillong, Jun 23 (UNI) The Congress led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government late last night decided to retain former Chief Minister D D Lapang as the Chairman of the coalition.

The former Khasi Students' Union leader turned politician said the MDA also decided to elevate the status of the Chairman of Meghalaya Economic Development Council to that of chief minister.

Mr J D Rymbai, the chief minister, has appointed Mr Lapang as the Chairman of the MEDC.

The MDA legislators took this decision at Taraghar here after majority of the partners wanted Mr Lapang to continue as the Chairman till the end of the present term, said the MDA spokesperson and Urban Affairs Minister Paul Lyngdoh, adding that the new status to Mr Lapang will have to be ratified by the State Assembly.

Mr Lapang told reporters that his duty, as the MDA chairman, was to co-ordinate between the Congress Legislature Party and the MDA.

Apart from retaining the former chief minister, Mr Lyngdoh said the MDA also endorsed a Cabinet decision to exclude the posts of Co-Chairman and Deputy Chairman of various Boards and Corporations from office of profit.

Interestingly, the MDA decided not to have any separate Common Minimum Programme, as the MDA Spokesperson said the basic issues were already highlighted in the Governor's address and in the budget speech of the finance minister.

The MDA comprises 29 Congress MLAs and 16 MLAs from four regional political parties--United Democratic Party(8), Meghalaya Democratic Party(4), Hill State People's Democratic Party(2) and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement(2)--in a House of 60.

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