Congress observers Ramesh Chennithala and Mabel Rebello today ended the suspense over the leadership issue in Meghalaya and said D.D. Lapang would continue as the Chief Minister. But, they said, steps will have to be taken to reduce the gap between the government and party legislators. The observers were deputed by party high command to defuse the rebellion within the party in the state that had led to the demand for Lapang’s resignation. The two Congress leaders, who have been camping in Shillong since Tuesday, met all Congress legislators individually. They also announced the formation of two committees for better coordination between the party, allies and the government.Lapang had been under pressure from dissident MLAs, after the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government’s decision to construct the new Assembly site at Mawdiangdiang was defeated.
