Rymbai awaits Sonia's direction on Congress crisis in Meghalaya

Shillong, July 25 (UNI) Admitting there was a move to topple his 39-day-old coalition government, Meghalaya Chief Minister J Dringwell Rymbai today said he is awaiting AICC president Sonia Gandhi's direction.

Mr Rymbai's statement assumed significance, after 19 Congress legislators, who had chosen him as their Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, demanded to reinstate former Chief Minister DD Lapang as the CLP leader.

The demand was made in view of Mr Rymbai losing his majority.

Early this morning, Mr Lapang rushed to New Delhi, after being summoned by Mrs Gandhi, to discuss the sudden political turmoil in the state.

''I am waiting only for the direction from New Delhi and I am not going to fight back,'' Mr Rymbai told reporters here at his office chamber.

''The Congress Legislators have backstabbed me and let the public decide their fate,'' a nervous Mr Rymbai asserted.

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

''I was not interested for the Chief Minister's post. I decided to take over from Mr Lapang after the Congress MLAs demanded change of leadership,'' he said.

The Congress, which is leading the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, has 29 MLAs in the House of 60 and supported by four regional political parties--United Democratic Party (8), Meghalaya Democratic Party (4) , besides two legislators each from Hills State People's Democratic Party and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement.

In fact, the schism in the Congress party surfaced again soon after Mr Rymbai failed to give senior Congress legislator K K Dkhar a ministerial berth in the ministry.

Mr Dkhar, a key figure in toppling the Lapang government earlier, was promised a ministerial berth by Charles Pyngrope Spokesman of CLP and Prestone Tynsong, now a cabinet minister in Rymbai-led ministry, agreed in writing to accommodate Mr Dkhar in the ministry due to his seniority.

Meanwhile, former Health and Family Welfare Minister Sayeedulah Nongrum told UNI here over telephone from New Delhi they have garnered signature of at least 19 Congress MLAs to replace Mr Rymbai.

The legislators includes Samuel Sangma, Dr Mukul Sangma, Zenith Sangma, Deborah Marak, Sayeedulah Nongrum, Beckstar Sangma, Tonsing Marak, K K Dkhar, Boldness Nongrum, Friday Lyngdoh, Tony Curtis Lyngdoh, Clement Marak and D D Lapang, he said.

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