Meghalaya Congress MLAs demanding change of guard

Shillong, July 24 (UNI) In a new twist to Meghalaya politics, 19 Congress legislators, backing former state Chief Minister D D Lapang, have been camping at the AICC headquarters to re-instate Mr Lapang as the Congress Legislature Party leader.

The Congress has 29 MLAs in the House of 60.

The schism in the Congress party resurfaced after present Chief Minister J Dringwel Rymbai failed to induct senior Congress leader and AICC member K K Dkhar was refused a ministerial berth in the Rymbai led ministry.

Last month, Mr Rymbai took over the reins from Mr D D Lapang after 17 Congress MLAs alleged the latter of indulging in 'manipulative politics'.

At least two Congress MLAs - Mr Charles Pyngrope, the Spokesman of CLP, and Mr Prestone Tynsong, now a cabinet minister in the Rymbai ministry, agreed in writing to opt for Mr Dkhar.

Mr Rymbai last night told reporters here that he had inducted his ministers as per the guidelines that each district should be represented by a minister.

''It is difficult to accommodate all due to downsizing. Moreobver, the interest of the coalition partners also need to be looked into,'' Mr Rymbai stated.

Confirming that there is a ''strong move'' to re-instate Mr Lapang, former Health and Family Welfare Minister Sayeedulah Nongrum told UNI here over the telephone from New Delhi that they have garnered signatures of at least 19 Congress MLAs to replace Mr Rymbai with Mr Lapang.

''We have the number to replace Mr Rymbai with Mr Lapang,'' Mr Nongrum said, adding they will soon meet AICC members to direct Mr Rymbai to summon a CLP meeting.

When asked, Mr Nongrum said the demand to remove Mr Rymbai was mainly due to his ''inefficiency''.

Rubbishing claims made by dissident Congress MLAs, state Minister in-charge Mining and Geology Prestone Tynsong said, ''AICC is no more interested in effecting a change of leadership in the state.'' ''It's not fair to criticise us when we have only completed one month in office,'' Mr Tynsong said.

State Home Minister, Robert Garnett Lyngdoh, a key figure in toppling the Lapang government, earlier also denied of any discontent within the party and maintained, ''it is all speculation.'' UNI RRK KK DB RL VV1648