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Meghalaya : Lapang bounces back as CM, Rymbai out |
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Meghalaya Chief Minister J.D. Rymbai resigned on March 10 and his predecessor D.D. Lapang returned to power.
In a day marked by high drama, Rymbai caved in to Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s pressure and submitted his resignation to Governor. Soon after Rymbai’s resignation, a beaming Lapang was sworn in as Chief Minister along with 10 other MLAs at the Raj Bhavan.
Four of Rymbai’s loyalists - R.G. Lyngdoh, Charles Pyngrope, Manirul Islam and Prestone Tynsong - were sworn in, along with Lapang’s followers Mukul Sangma, Deborah Marak and Zenith Sangma.
United Democratic Party president Donkupar Roy, Meghalaya Democratic Party president Martle Mukhim and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement president Paul Lyngdoh were also retained in Lapang’s ministry. The coalition partners reneged on the support they had pledged Rymbai.
Rymbai told mediapersons that he stepped down so as to ensure that the upcoming budget session of the Assembly and the visit of President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to Shillong on March 16 to address the session were not disturbed.
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