Prove majority in CLP, Rymbai told

The tussle for the Chief Minister’s post in Meghalaya has led Congress president Sonia Gandhi to direct present incumbent J D Rymbai to convene the Congress...

The tussle for the Chief Minister’s post in Meghalaya has led Congress president Sonia Gandhi to direct present incumbent J D Rymbai to convene the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on January 17 and seek re-election as its leader.

Former chief minister D D Lapang has been trying to return as CM ever since he was ousted from the post by Rymbai, a minister in his Cabinet, last June.

Last night Rymbai, Lapang and Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president O L Nongtdu met Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi to resolve the leadership issue. However, the Congress president only directed Rymbai to convene a CLP meeting to decide whether he or Lapang command majority within the legislators.

The tussle between Rymbai and Lapang for the Chief Minister’s post had dominated the second half of last year. Ever since his ejection, Lapang has been trying to dislodge Rymbai from the top job, claiming he has more legislators with him than Rymbai. Rymbai and Lapang have both been claiming the support of a majority of the 29 Congress legislators. In December, AICC observer Ved Prakash visited Shillong to resolve the leadership issue and left after Rymbai and Lapang agreed to bury their differences and work together for Rongjeng by-poll. But, Congress lost the election to the NCP candidate, and the feud between the two leaders resurfaced.

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