Cong leaders wooing MLAs ahead of CLP meet

Shillong, Jan 15 (UNI) Warring factions of the Congress in Meghalaya are now desperately wooing each other's MLAs ahead of the crucial Congress Legislature Party meeting on January 17.

The party's legislature meet will decide the fate of Chief Minister J D Rymbai and his predecessor D D Lapang and former Deputy Chief Minister Mukul M Sangma.

The Congress, which has 29 MLAs in the 60-member House, will elect their new leader through a secret ballot instead of electing someone by a voice vote.

AICC president Sonia Gandhi has directed Major (retd) Ved Prakash, to be present in the meeting to iron out them pending leadership issue.

Political bickering has been lingering between the two warring factions ever since Mr Rymbai assumed power replacing Mr Lapang last June.

Earlier, Ms Gandhi had sent Maj Prakash, the party observer for the state, here to find an amicable solution.

Mr Lapang, staking a claim to the hot seat, has already approached few Rymbai-loyalists to support him as their leader.

''Mr Lapang had approached many of our MLAs to support him,'' state Public Health Engineering Minister Prestone Tynsong told UNI here today.

He claimed Mr Rymbai had the requisite numbers and will not indulge in horse-trading.

''I don't believe in horse-trading business and let the MLAs decide who should be their leader, '' Mr Rymbai stated.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, once regarded a close-confidant of Mr Lapang also has thrown his hat into the ring.

When asked whether he has the numbers, Dr Sangma said he has left the matter with the MLAs and added ''let the MLAs decides their leader.'' UNI RRK KK MQA RK1630