Prakash arrives in shillong to iron out differences in the CLP

Shillong, Aug 06 (UNI) AICC leader in-charge of Meghalaya Maj. (retd) Ved Prakash arrived here today to iron out the difference in the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in the state.

Maj. Prakash's visit assumed significance in the backdrop of dissident Congress legislators, demanding to re-instate former Chief Minister DD Lapang as their CLP leader.

On June 15 last, Mr Lapang proposed his close-aide Mr JD Rymbai as his successor after 17 Congress legislators accused him of indulging in ''manipulative politics''.

''I am here to assess the political situation and galvanised the party in the state as directed by Mrs Gandhi,'' Maj. Prakash told UNI here exclusively.

Mr Lapang, who had spent a week in New Delhi trying to convince the AICC president Sonia Gandhi and other leaders, said the party high command would depute its party observer to verify the strength of both the groups.

During his three-day stay in the capital state, the AICC leader said he would prepare a detailed report on the ground situation and submit the same to Mrs Gandhi to enable her to take a decision.

Maj. Prakash would have one to one meeting with party legislators tomorrow to get their views on the political situation. On June 8, he will attend party executive meeting to take party workers views.

He would also meet the leaders of the regional parties, which are the allies of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government.

Recently, Mr Lapang, who led the rebel Congress MLAs to AICC headquarters informed Mrs Gandhi on the need to change the present Chief Minister JD Rymbai claiming that the latter no more enjoy the majority in the CLP.

The Congress has 29 MLAs in the house of 60.

''We have proved our strength to Madam (Mrs Gandhi) in Delhi last week and she is very much convinced. Prakash's visit is to see the change of guard,'' said KK Dkhar, a dissident Congress legislator.

Mr Dkhar, a key figure in toppling the Lapang led government, said the demand for change of leadership was necessitated after Mr Rymbai found to be inefficient in leading the state.

''Last time we demanded to replace Mr Lapang with Mr Rymbai was mainly to improve the performance of the government, but we realised that Mr Lapang is better than him,'' the dissident Congress legislator stated.

Brushing asides the claims made by the dissident group, CLP secretary Charles Pyngrope maintained that Mr Rymbai still enjoys the majority in the CLP.

''There is no need to change the leader as Mr Rymbai still stand tall in the CLP,'' Mr Pyngrope said adding that the political turmoil in the Congress party can be sorted out amicably with the help of the party high command.

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