Lapang dons CM's mantle for third time

Shillong, Mar 10 (UNI) After a poverty-stricken childhood and a career as a lower division clerk, Donwa Dethwelson Lapang today donned the Chief Minister's mantle in Meghalaya for the third time.

Born at Nongjri village in Ri-Bhoi on April 10, 1934 to Donwa War and Elkibon Lapang, Mr Lapang was forced to take up manual work at a very early age to support his family.

After completing primary school education in his home village, Mr Lapang matriculated from Shillong Government Boy's High School in 1951.

Mr Lapang began as a humble government servant and worked as a school teacher in Basic School at Shillong. He did his graduation from St Anthony's College, Shillong.

He worked in Assam Civil Secretariat as a typist and later joined as Sub Inspector of Schools. He resigned from the post in 1972 to contest the Assembly election which he won as an Independent candidate from Nongpoh constituency.

The 67-year-old Mr Lapang, who joined Congress in 1978 became the Minister of State for Cooperation, Jails, Education and Civil Defence in the same year in the then Congress-led government of late Capt W A Sangma. From 1979 to 1980 he was the Cabinet minister in-charge of Health and Family Welfare.

In 1987 he resigned as Home Minister in the wake of deterioration in law and order in the state over KSU agitation. He was Deputy Chief Minister in 1988 in Purno A Sangma's government. Mr Lapang became Chief Minister for the first time in 1992.

He got elected for consecutive three terms but was defeated in 1993. In 1998 he was elevated to the post of Deputy Chief Minister in a coalition government of BB Lyngdoh. In the Khonglam-led coalition government, too, Mr Lapang was the Deputy Chief Minister.

In 2003, Mr Lapang was again re-elected from Nongpoh constituency and sworn in as Chief Minister for the second time and lead the Congress-Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government. However, on June 15, 2006, the senior Congress leader had to pave way for his once trusted-aide J Dringwell Rymbai to lead the coalition led government after Congress legislators accused him of indulging in ''manipulative politics''.

Mr Lapang also served as the president of the Meghalaya State Council Society, Council member of All India Peace and Solidarity Organisations. Mr Lapang is a widely travelled man having visited the USA, erstwhile USSR, the UK, former East Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Thailand and Hong Kong.

UNI