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Meghalaya : Congress infighting, besieged Lapang at Sonia’s door |
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Embattled Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang rushed to New Delhi last week,
hoping to convince the Congress high command that he continues to call the shots in the ruling alliance despite more MLAs joining the revolt against him.
Lapang and former chief minister Salseng C. Marak were summoned by the AICC to discuss the crisis, which began on December 22 with members of the ruling coalition ganging up with the Opposition to veto the proposal to build a new Assembly complex at Mawdiangdiang.
Marak, however, did not go. “My views do not matter much. I have requested representatives of the high command to come to Shillong to ascertain the views of the MLAs,” the PCC chief said.
Sources said the Congress high command had asked Lapang to submit a detailed report on the developments. As many as 37 MLAs of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), including 15 Congress members, are understood to be baying for Lapang’s ouster.
Members of the anti-Lapang camp said if the AICC did not replace him, they would appeal for a special session of the Assembly to discuss the subject.
“He (Lapang) was reduced to a minority on two occasions in the Assembly and, therefore, should accept responsibility on moral grounds. Otherwise, we will press for a special session to ensure that the voice of the people is not suppressed,” said associate Congress member P.M. Syiem.
The MLA from Mylliem constituency was referring to the government’s failure to have its way in the winter session of the Assembly. After the embarrassment of seeing his colleagues in the ruling alliance vetoing the idea of building a new Assembly complex at Mawdiangdiang, the Lapang government failed to get a contingency fund bill passed.
Syiem, a former minister, and other regional big guns like J.A. Lyngdoh of the United Democratic Party and P. T. Sawkmie and D.P. Iangjuh of the Meghalaya Democratic Party went into a huddle with Marak.
Senior Congress members like Transport Minister J.D. Rymbai and Tourism Minister Deborah Marak, too, met Marak.
The Congress has 27 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly. A source in the AICC said Sonia Gandhi was unhappy over the manner in which Congress legislators have revolted against Lapang. He said Union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and Congress bigwig Oscar Fernandes had a series of telephonic conversations with the chief Minister.
On December 20, bolstered by unexpected support from the treasury benches, the Opposition vetoed the D.D. Lapang-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government’s decision to build a new Assembly complex.
A resolution moved by Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) leader H.S. Lyngdoh against the decision was supported by 29 legislators. What made it worse for the government was the fact that as many as 16 members of the group were from the ruling alliance.
Senior Congress members like former home minister R.G. Lyngdoh, K.K. Dkhar and P.M. Syiem questioned the “hasty manner” in which the government drew up plans for a new Assembly complex.
The original Assembly building was gutted in a fire in January 2001.
Chief minister D.D. Lapang’s reply - he cited several reasons for selecting Mawdiangdiang as the site - did not satisfy the agitated members.
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