AICC deputes Prakash to sort out Meghalaya crisis

Shillong, Aug 5 (UNI) Congress President Sonia Gandhi deputed AICC member in-charge Meghalaya affairs, Major (Retd) Ved Prakash to assess the 'inner row' in the Congress Legislature Party in the state.

Maj (Retd) Prakash will arrive here tomorrow to assess the political situation following discontent among the Congress legislators.

Soon after taking stock of the political situation, Maj (Retd) Prakash will submit a report to Mrs Gandhi based on which the party would take a decision.

Recently, 15 dissident Congress MLAs demanded re-instatment of Mr D D Lapang as leader of the Congress Legislature Party.

Mr J D Rymbai took over the helm of affairs from Mr Lapang after 17 Congress MLAs accused the latter of indulging in 'manipulative politics'.

In fact, the schism in the Congress erupted after Chief Minister J D Rymbai failed to induct senior Congress legislator K K Dkhar in the ministry.

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

''Maj (Retd) Prakash's visit to the state capital is to assess the political situation in the state that arose following the demand of change in leadership,'' said a senior Congress leader close to AICC leaders.

Congress sources said the AICC leader would have one-to-one discussions with party legislators to iron out differences.

Maj (Retd) Prakash will also meet Mr Rymbai to find out the reason of the discontent in the legislature party.

Apart from holding interaction with the legislators, sources said, Mrs Gandhi had directed the AICC in-charge Meghalaya to hold an executive committee meeting of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee to gauge the mind of party workers on 'change of leadership' issue. Earlier, Mr Lapang said the visit of Major (Retd) Ved Prakash was to verify the strength of his group.

UNI RRK PL RN1529