In Chief Ministership:Kyndiah

Shillong, Aug 12 (UNI) Union Minister in-charge Development of North Eastern Region Patty Ripple Kyndiah today made it clear he is not interested in becoming the chief minister of Meghalaya.

Mr Kyndiah's statement assumed significance in the wake of at least 15 rebel Congress MLAs demanding re-instatement of former Chief Minister D D Lapang as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the state.

Mr Lapang stepped down on June 15 and proposed his trusted-aide Mr J D Rymbai's name as his successor after 17 rebel Congress MLAs accused him of indulging in 'manipulative politics'.

The dissident MLAs wanted the change of guard after one of the senior Congress MLAs K K Dkhar was not inducted in the Rymbai-led ministry.

In the backdrop of this 'inner squabbling' Congress president Sonia Gandhi even deputed AICC leader in-charge Meghalaya Maj (Retd) Ved Prakash to assess the political situation in the state.

Mr Kyndiah, who is here to take stock of the situation, told UNI that he was not interested in returning to state politics as he preferred national politics.

''I am not interested in chief ministership,'' Mr Kyndiah said, revealing that earlier the AICC had requested him to return to state politics.

Reacting to the demand of 15 dissident Congress legislators, the union minister said, ''change of leadership is a common phenomenon in any political party. But the Congress has its skills and knacks to solve this kind of problem.'' ''I hope the MLAs here too would sort out their difference,'' he said.

In this regard, Mr Kyndiah said he had already held discussions with some of the Congress MLAs to iron out differences.

Mr Kyndiah would hold discussions with Mr Rymbai later in the day on how to resolve the problem.

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