Rymbai defiant, to consult supporters tomorrow

Guwahati, Mar 8 (UNI) Meghalaya Chief Minister J D Rymbai will call on his 'loyalist' Congress MLAs and coalition partners tomorrow, defying the 'diktat' of the Congress High Command to tender his resignation.

''I am going to meet my loyalists in the Congress and then other supporting alliance partners as well as regional parties.

Only after that I shall go to Governor M M Jacob to inform him about our decision,'' he told UNI here this evening.

He was asked to step down by Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday night, kicking up widespread protest both inside and outside the party.

Ms Gandhi asked him to pave way for former Meghalaya Chief Minister and his bete noire D D Lapang as according to a secret ballot, 14 of the 30 Congress legislators supported him while other 16 supported Mr Lapang.

The Congress is on the verge of a split in Meghalaya as the NCP, BJP and other smaller regional parties have announced their support to Mr Rymbai.

Mr Rymbai, instead of proceeding to Shillong after arriving from New Delhi early this afternoon, stayed in the Meghalaya house till 2000 hrs and then left for Meghalaya.

''Let me meet my loyalists,'' he said when asked whether he would defy the Congress High Command's diktat if the loyalists asked him to do so.

Meanwhile in Shillong, Mr Lapang today called on the Governor enquiring about any directive from the Centre for the formation of the new ministry replacing present incumbent Mr Rymbai.

UNI