MLAs put your public interest before personal interest, Lyngdoh

Shillong, Jul 26 (UNI) Taking a dig on the Congress MLAs hankering for power, Meghalaya Home Minister Robert Garnett Lyngdoh today urged legislators to put public interest before their personal interest.

Mr Lyngdoh made the statement after 17 Congress legislators demanded reinstatement of former Chief Minister D D Lapang as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader.

Last month, Mr Lapang stepped down as the leader of the CLP and chose his trusted-aide Mr J D Rymbai as his successor.

Mr Lyngdoh, a key figure in toppling the Lapang-led ministry, told reporters here today that the move by certain legislators for another change of leadership would surely make a dent in Congress's image.

He said the Congress legislators decided to oust Mr Lapang to improve the party image.

Mr Lyngdoh, who is also in-charge of Tourism, said that with 18 months left for the state to go for elections, the legislators should stand united rather than messing up the party's image.

On the move of electing a new CLP leader, the Home Minister said he was not surprised with this current move, as some of the ''displaced ministers would try their bid to get back their seat''.

''I am here to serve the people. If they think that they can serve better than me, I am ready to quit my post for them,'' the perturbed Home minister added.

Mr Lyngdoh hoped that the AICC would not set precedence by complying with the dissident Congress MLAs' demands.

Differences in the Congress party surfaced again after Chief Minister J Dringwel Rymbai failed to induct senior Congress leaders in the ministry and AICC member K K Dkhar was refused a ministerial berth.

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