Shillong, March 18: With the intervention of the AICC, the revolt in Meghalaya Congress has been temporarily brought under control as the legislators brace for a six-day assembly session from tomorrow.
“The AICC has asked the Congress legislators to remain united and further discussions would take place after the assembly session,” a close aide of Chief Minister D D Lapang said after the latter met Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s Political Secretary Ahmed Patel and AICC secretary in-charge of Meghalaya Luizinho Falerio in New Delhi last night.
Lapang held talks with the AICC top brass after nine rebel Congress MLAs demanded that three Independent legislators and the lone MLA from Khyun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) be dropped and senior Congress MLAs accommodated in the Congress-led government.
The rebel MLAs contended that they should be given a berth in the ministry and the three Independents and KHNAM MLA Paul Lyngdoh be dropped, as the Congress and its ally United Democratic Party had enough numbers to provide a stable government.
“We have aired our grievances to the AICC leaders. We are hopeful of getting a positive response,” one of the disgruntled MLAs said.
Lapang had inducted the three independents – A T Mondol, Ismail R Marak and Limison Sangma – and the lone KHNAM MLA into his 12-member ministry as they were instrumental in dislodging the previous NCP-led government last year. However, only six Congress MLAs have found berths in Lapang’s ministry.
The ruling alliance enjoys the support of 44 MLAs – 27 from Congress, 10 from UDP, two from Hill State People’s Democratic Party, one from Khyun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) and four Independents.
—-PTI–