MPCC chief blames Cong for Meghalaya's political instability

Shillong, Jan 28 (UNI) Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee chief Onward L Nongtdu today blamed Congress legislators for raking up the leadership issue in the state.

However, several Congress legislators and even members of the MPCC held Mr Nongtdu responsible for the infighting in the party over the post of chief ministership.

''How can they blame me for this. If they introspect properly then can know how and who started the issue,'' Mr Nongtdu told UNI here.

According to him, the leadership crisis was kicked-off since last June when dissident Congress MLAs overthrow Mr Lapang from the post of the chief ministership.

The dissident MLAs elected Mr Lapang's aide Mr J D Rymbai as their Congress Legislature Party leader, who ultimately became the head of the politically 'unstable' state, sources said.

The person behind this political instability and infighting in the Congress are those who planned the removal of Mr Lapang, Mr Nongtdu said.

When asked, Mr Nongtdu said he would not bow down to the demands of some MLAs and MPCC leaders to step down as MPCC chief over the ''leadership issue''.

''Why should I step down to the demand of a few people,'' the former Rajya Sabha said.

Earlier, state Minister in-charge Public Health Engineering Prestone Tynsong, MPCC Vice President Oris Lyngdoh and other senior Congress leaders blamed Mr Nongtdu for destroying the party's unity in the state.

The Congress leaders have also asked Mr Nongtdu to step down gracefully from the post of MPCC president before he is removed.

UNI