AICC to decide Meghalaya's leadership issue

Shillong, Jan 8: The AICC is today expected to take a final decision on the demand for a leadership change in Meghalaya.

Chief Minister J D Rymbai, his predecessor D D Lapang, formerDeputy Chief Minister Dr Mukul M Sangma and Meghalaya Pradesh CongressCommittee chief Onward L Nongtdu have reached New Delhi to discuss theissue.

The political bickering has been lingering between the two warringfactions of the Congress ever since Mr Rymbai assumed power replacingMr Lapang in last June.

AICC president Sonia Gandhi had sent her envoy Maj(retd) VedPrakash, who is the Congress observer for Meghalaya, here to hammer outa compromise formula among the warring groups. But his mission was notsuccessful.

Today, Mr Rymbai is scheduled to meet AICC General Secretary OscarFernandes, along with his rival to discuss the issue in New Delhi.Mewnhile, Mr Lapang and others have held two-rounds of talk with MrFernandes and Maj Prakash on the issue.

Sources closes to Mr Lapang said that pressed for the replacement,citing Mr Rymbai's ''inability'' to lead the party to polls early nextyear. ''The humiliating defeat of the Congress in the Rongjeng by-pollwas also attributed due to Mr Rymbai's inability as a leader,'' sourcescited Mr Lapang as saying.

However, the Congress regional partners in the government back MrRymbai and urged the Congress to stop this political wrangling for sakeof development of the state.

UNI >