Sonia to assess ground reality in Meghalaya

New Delhi, July 29 (UNI) The Congress High Command will take a decision on whether or not to allow leadership change in Meghalaya after assessing the ground reality in the state.

This is beleived to have been conveyed to former Chief Minister of Meghalaya D D Lapang, who is leading a group of 18 Congress MLAs seeking a leadership change, when he met Congress President Sonia Gandhi here yesterday along with the MLAs.

Union Minister and AICC Incharge of North Eastern States Oscar Fernandes,Political Secretary to Mrs Gandhi Ahmad Patel and AICC Secretary in charge of Meghalaya Ved Prakash were present during yesterday's meeting with the Congress President,according to sources.

The Congress President is likely to take a decision about leadership change in consultation with Mr Fernandes after he returns here on July 31 from Bangkok,where he has gone to attend a meeting with Naga leaders belonging to the NSCN (IM), scheduled to be held there,the sources said.

Mr Lapang, who claims a support of 19 MLAs out of the total 29 MLAs in Meghalaya, has been camping here in Delhi to plead for a leadership change with Ms Gandhi.Before meeting Ms Gandhi he has had a separate meeting with Mr Fernandes and Mr Ahmad Patel.

UNI YS MIR ND2006