The ruling Congress in Meghalaya has summoned a meeting of its Legislature Party in Shillong on Monday to discuss the issue of change in leadership after Chief Minister D.D. Lapang admitted on Sunday that he had lost the support of most party legislators and expressed willingness to quit to pave the way for the election of a new leader.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told The Hindu over telephone from New Delhi that the CLP meeting would be followed by a meeting of coalition partners, the ruling Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA).
“Unity more important”
When contacted, Dr. Lapang acknowledged that he had lost the support of a majority of Congress legislators. Being a disciplined Congressman, the party's unity was more important to him and he would pave the way for a new leader if the legislators and the party so desired.
Asked if the CLP would elect a new leader, Dr. Sangma said the details of the meeting with the Congress high command and Meghalaya Congress leaders would be communicated at the CLP meeting and the outcome made public after the MUA meeting.
These developments took place after 20 of the 28 Congress legislators reportedly met in Shillong late on Friday night and pledged their support to Dr. Sangma. Both Dr. Lapang and Dr. Sangma rushed to Delhi on Saturday to discuss the current political crisis with the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) leaders and party high command.
