Lapang calls on Governor,Rymbai to quit after consulting MLAs

Shillong, Mar 7 (UNI) Former Meghalaya chief minister D D Lapang today called on Governor M M Jacob enquiring about any directive from the Centre for the formation of the new ministry replacing present incumbent J D Rymbai.

His move came even as Mr Rymbai said he would only tender his resignation after taking the views of 'loyalist' Congress MLAs and coalition partners.

Last night Congress President Sonia Gandhi directed Mr Rymbai to step down and pave the way for predecessor D D Lapang.

''I came to meet the Governor to enquire whether he had received any official communication,'' Mr Lapang told reporters at Raj Bhawan after a brief meeting with Mr Jacob this evening.

During the 15-minute meeting, Mr Lapang said the governor had asked him to seek the cooperation of all the 60 legislators in the state during President APJ Abdul Kalam's forthcoming visit. Dr Kalam is scheduled to address the legislative assembly on March 16.

Meanwhile, Mr Rymbai, who will return here tomorrow from New Delhi, told UNI over the phone that he will put in his papers only after taking the views of 'loyalist' Congress MLAs and coalition partners.

''I have to discuss with them as to whether I should quit or not,'' the beleaguered chief minister said.

Last night, Mr Rymbai held a closed door meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi. Mr Rymbai was directed to step down and hand over the reins to his predecessor.

Meanwhile, sources close to Congress MLAs supporting Mr Rymbai said the MLAs would urge him to prove his majority in the floor of the House.

Mr Rymbai, who enjoys the support of 15 of the 29 Congress MLAs, is also being backed by 16 MLAs belonging to four regional parties --United Democratic Party(8), Meghalaya Democratic Party(4), Hill State People's Democratic Party(2) and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement(2).

The opposition Nationalist Congress Party, which has eight MLAs, had extended outside support to the Rymbai-led government.

NCP leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma today came out in support of Mr Rymbai terming his sudden removal as 'unfortunate'. ''They should not have removed an honest man like this,'' Mr Sangma told UNI over the phone from Garo Hills today.

Meanwhile, the Garo Students' Union(GSU) and Hynniewtrep National Youth Front(HNYF) have voiced their protest against Mrs Gandhi's decision to remove Mr Rymbai from the post of chief minister.

''We will fax a message to the Congress President tonight asking her to withdraw her decision,'' HNYF president G H Kharshanlor said, adding that if Mrs Gandhi failed to comply with their demand, the organisation would have no option but to launch an agitation in the state.

The influential GSU had also threatened to launch an agitation in Garo Hills districts, which is primarily a Congress bastion.

''The Congress chief should withdraw her decision and allow Mr Rymbai to continue peacefully,'' GSU president Aldo A Sangma said.

EDS:Here pick up suitably from related series.

UNI