Rymbai summons CLP meet

Shillong, Aug 18 (UNI) Meghalaya Chief Minister JD Rymbai has decided to convene a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) and Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) meeting on August 21 next to sort out the difference in the Congress party.

Mr Rymbai summoning the CLP meeting came in the backdrop of dissident Congress legislators, demanding to re-instate former Chief Minister as their new CLP leader.

At least 15 dissident Congress legislators proposed Mr Lapang's reinstatement, accusing his successor JD Rymbai as ''inefficient'' to lead the government ahead of the 2008 assembly election.

Mr Lapang who even led the rebel Congress MLAs to AICC headquarters informed AICC president Sonia Gandhi on the need to change to present Chief Minister JD Rymbai claiming that the latter no more enjoyed the majority in the CLP.

However, Chief Minister JD Rymbai who seems to have the support of Mrs Gandhi said that he had decided to convene the CLP meet to discuss about galvanising the party and maintain unity among the party legislators.

When asked, Mr Rymbai said he did not fix any formal agenda for the meet but everybody is free to air their grievances in the CLP.

However, source close to the dissident Congress legislators have decided to raise the issue of change of leadership in the state.

''The CLP is the right place to raise the issue of change of leader and to test the strength of the present Chief Minister JD Rymbai,'' the source said.

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