By IANS,
Shillong : Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang Sunday admitted he had lost the support of the majority of Congress legislators in the state but said the leadership issue was still open.
Lapang’s comments came a night after Mukul M. Sangma, his trusted aide, was unanimously chosen the chief minister’s successor by 21 of 28 Congress legislators at a closed-door meeting.
Sangma is currently a deputy chief minister in the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) coalition government.
“There is no denial that Mukul enjoys the majority but the issue (change of guard) will be resolved only after the approval of Congress president Sonia Gandhi,” Lapang told IANS.
“It’s upto the high command now. As a disciplined Congressman, I will abide and be guided by my party’s directives,” he said.
Both Lapang and Sangma and a host of 20 Congress legislators are camping in the national capital to resolve the month-old political crisis.
Sangma, who is expected to soon take over as Meghalaya’s new chief minister, told IANS: “We are waiting only for the approval of madam (Sonia Gandhi).
“All have pledged their unconditional support to me, to ensure coherence and unity in the Congress Legislature Party (CLP),” Sangma said.
Congress rebels had demanded Lapang’s removal on charges that Meghalaya had not made any progress under his leadership.
The rebellion in the CLP started in March after 14 Congress legislators asked Lapang to sack two independent legislators – Ismail R. Marak and Limison Sangma – as well as Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) leader Paul Lyngdoh from the cabinet.
They wanted Congressmen to be included in the cabinet in their place. When Lapang failed to do so, the rebels pressed for his removal.
When Sangma takes over, Meghalaya will get its fourth government in a little over two years.
In the 60-member legislature, the Congress has 28 legislators and has the support of 10 UDP members, five independents and one KHNAM legislator. The main opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has 15 members.