By IANS,
Shillong : Rebel Congress legislators in Meghalaya Thursday kept their pressure on the party leadership to remove D.D. Lapang from the chief minister’s post.
“We sent a fax letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, reiterating our demand to change the leadership,” a rebel Congress legislator told IANS on condition of anonymity.
At least 16 rebels out of the party’s 28 legislators in the 60-member state assembly demanded Lapang’s removal, saying that the state has not made any progress under his leadership.
The rebels, who were camping in the national capital till last week, have been assured that their demand will be looked into after Easter.
Lapang, who dashed off to New Delhi Tuesday, met Congress Working Committee member Oscar Fernandes. Other Congress leaders also held discussions on how to resolve the crisis.
Some of the Congress leaders, in the know how of the political dynamics in Meghalaya, hinted at a complete reshuffling of the council of ministers with Lapang continuing as the chief minister to resolve the political crisis.
Before rushing to New Delhi, the chief minister met Governor R.S. Mooshahary and held discussions on the political stalemate arising from within the Congress legislature party.
“He (Lapang) has been throwing baits (ministerial berth) for quite sometime, but it did not help him as we are intact and united,” one of the rebel Congress legislators said.
The rebels met Ahmed Patel, the political secretary to the Congress president, the party’s Meghalaya in-charge, Luizinho Faleiro, and other leaders in New Delhi, pressing for their demand.
The beleaguered chief minister, who flew to Allahabad from New Delhi Thursday, told IANS that he will meet Gandhi and brief her on the demand of the rebel Congress legislators.
“Let me brief her and I will abide by the party’s decision,” he said.
Political instability appears to have become a permanent feature in Meghalaya, which has seen three governments since the March 2008 election.
Lapang was sworn in as chief minister of a Congress-led coalition government May 13, 2009, after the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-United Democratic Party (UDP) five-party coalition government was dismissed and the state brought under president’s rule.
The Congress enjoys the support of nine UDP members. The NCP, the main opposition, has 15 members.