NCP ready to extend support to Rymbai

Shillong, Feb 27 (UNI) Opposition Nationalist Congress Party in Meghalaya today renewed its offer to support Mr J D Rymbai as Chief Minister after the All India Congress Committee directed him to quit the office of chief ministership.

''We are still ready to extend outside support to Mr Rymbai to ensure political stability in the state,'' former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP leader Purno A Sangma told UNI here over phone from Imphal.

The NCP has eight legislators in the 60-member house.

Mr Sangma said that his party was against the frequent change of leadership in this tiny state.

''It is better to let Mr Rymbai continue in his office than creating political instability (in the state),'' the NCP leader stated.

The United Democratic Party, the main ally of the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government said that the party was not in favour of frequent of change of leader in the state.

''The present set-up of government should be given enough time to prepare for the coming budget session,'' UDP leader Rain Augustine Lyngdoh said.

Yesterday, AICC leaders Oscar Fernandes and Maj. (Retd) Ved Prakash, who arrived here earlier, verbally conveyed the party high command's directive to Mr Rymbai to put in his paper.

Expressing disappointment over the sudden AICC directive, former chief minister and senior Congress leader Salseng C Marak said Mr Rymbai should continue in office till the next year's assembly election.

''There is no use of changing the state leader every now and then and especially with state elections early next year,'' Mr Marak said, adding that any step taken to remove Mr Rymbai would further divide the Congress.

Mr Marak also termed yesterday's act by the party's high command against Mr Rymbai as ''absurd'' and against the principles of party democracy.

UNI