Congress allies urge Sonia to retain Rymbai as MDA leader

Shillong, Mar 9 (UNI) The regional allies of the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government today urged Congress president Sonia Gandhi to retain Mr J D Rymbai as the Chief Minister.

The regional parties, opposing to remove Mr Rymbai from the post of the Chief Minister, came after Ms Gandhi directed the latter to step down and pave way for his predecessor D D Lapang to again lead the coalition government.

In a joint fax message to the Congress president, the presidents of three regional parties - United Democratic Party's Dr Donkupar Roy, Meghalaya Democratic Party's Martle N Mukhim and Khun Hynniewtrep and National Awakening Movement's Paul Lyngdoh - reiterated their ''firm commitment'' to retain Mr Rymbai as the leader of the MDA government till the end of the term.

On March 6, Ms Gandhi, who held a closed-door meeting with Mr Rymbai at her 10 Janpath residence in Delhi in the presence of AICC in-charge (North East) Oscar Fernandes, ordered him to quit and hand over the office to Mr Lapang.

However, Mr Rymbai defied the party diktat and said he would quit the office of the Chief Ministership only after consulting ''loyal Congress MLAs'' and his coalition partners.

'' We do not want frequent change of government, which is affecting political stability and hampering all development programmes in the state, '' Deputy Chief Minister and UDP leader Dr Donkupar Roy told reporters here after holding a closed door meeting with Mr Rymbai this evening.

The three regional leaders also handed their letter of support to state Governor M M Jacob.

The meeting was also attended by the presidents of Meghalaya Democratic Party Martle N Mukhim and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement Paul Lyngdoh besides senior regional parties' leaders and Mr Rymbai's ''loyal'' MLAs.

Mr Rymbai told reporters that he has ''no good news'' except that the leaders of the coalition partners have expressed their support to his leadership.

However, he refused to comment when asked whether he would continue or quit as per the Congress high command's directives.

'' I am waiting for some more time and we are going to meet again tomorrow, '' Mr Rymbai stated.

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