Ex-Meghalaya CM contemplates to quit Congress

Shillong, Aug 20 (UNI) Former Chief Minister J D Rymbai was contemplating to quit the Congress to contest the coming Assembly election in Meghalaya on a United Democratic Party (UDP) ticket.

Mr Rymbai, who was ousted as Chief Minister by Mr D D Lapang on March 10, had indicated to the UDP leadership to contest the election on a UDP ticket from Jirang constituency.

State Higher and Technical Education Minister Robert G Lyngdoh had decided not to contest the coming polls as a Congress candidate.

Congress sources said Mr Rymbai and some of his loyalists had fallen out with the Congress after the party high command 'unceremoniously' dismissed his eight-month-old government.

'' I am contemplating to contest the next election on a UDP ticket after the UDP approached me, '' Mr Rymbai said, refusing to divulge further.

The statement of Mr Rymbai assumed significance in the backdrop of media reports suggesting that the state Congress might deny a party ticket to him.

Sources close to Mr Rymbai claimed that the Congress was likely to issue a ticket to Mr William Mynsong, a close aide of Mr Lapang and rival of Mr Rymbai. Mr Mynsong, currently Deputy Chief Executive Member of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, had applied for a Congress ticket to join the election fray.

'' We will be happy if he applied for a party ticket so that we project him as our party candidate, '' Deputy Chief Minister and UDP president Donkupar Roy said.

Dr Roy, however, said the UDP will discuss the matter of fielding Mr Rymbai with the party's Jirang circle to approve his candidature.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC) had decided to put pressure on Mr Rymbai and Mr Lyngdoh to contest the election as Congress candidates.

UNI