AICC to decide Meghalaya's leadership issue today

Shillong, Jan 8 (UNI) 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, former Deputy Chief Minister Dr Mukul M Sangma and Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee chief Onward L Nongtdu have reached New Delhi to discuss the issue.

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

AICC president Sonia Gandhi had sent her envoy Maj(retd) Ved Prakash, who is the Congress observer for Meghalaya, here to hammer out a compromise formula among the warring groups. But his mission was not successful.

Today, Mr Rymbai is scheduled to meet AICC General Secretary Oscar Fernandes, along with his rival to discuss the issue in New Delhi. Mewnhile, Mr Lapang and others have held two-rounds of talk with Mr Fernandes 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 next year. ''The humiliating defeat of the Congress in the Rongjeng by-poll was also attributed due to Mr Rymbai's inability as a leader,'' sources cited Mr Lapang as saying.

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

UNI