Monday 19 April, 2010
SHILLONG: Party leaders said, Congress legislators are expected to meet here on Monday to elect Mukul M Sangma as their new leader in place of outgoing Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang. Lapang told IANS over phone from New Delhi, “I am coming to Shillong today and have convened a Congress legislature party (CLP) meeting to elect a new leader.
D.D.Lapang further added, “I will officially submit my resignation to Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary (Governor) to pave way for the creation of the new government. On Sunday evening, Lapang confessed that he had lost the support of the majority of the 28 Congress legislators to Sangma. Sangma on Tuesday morning, told IANS: “All legislators have pledged their unconditional support to me, to ensure coherence and unity in the CLP”.
To oversee the meeting on Monday, The Congress has deputed two central observers. These are Oscar Fernandes and Meghalaya unit in-charge Luizinho Faleiro. Thereafter Congress legislators will brief its coalition partners, UDP (United Democratic Party), Hill State People’s Democratic Party KHNAM (Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement) and some independent members.
The UDP, the second biggest constituent of the Congress-led MUA (Meghalaya United Alliance), has asserted it will continue its support under the new chief minister. UDP chief and former chief minister Donkupar Roy said, “The leadership issue in the Congress is not our concern. We have made our commitment to the Congress”.
NCP (National Congress Party) the main opposition expressed happiness that internal strife within the ruling party had been successfully resolved. Opposition leader Conrad K. Sangma asserted, “We are happy that they resolved it and hope that new leadership will ensure political stability in the state”. In little over two years Sangma will be the state’s fourth chief minister. The congress has 28 legislators and the support of 10 UDP members, five independent and one KHNAM legislator, in the sixty member legislature. There are 15 members in main opposition NCP.
