SHILLONG, April 6 � With dissidents trying to oust him, beleaguered Meghalaya Chief Minister DD Lapang today airdashed to New Delhi to have consultations with top AICC leaders.
Rebel Congress legislators want to change Lapang as Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and replace him by Assembly Speaker Charles Pyngrope.
�Definitely I am going to meet AICC leaders and tell them about the political stalemate in the State,� Lapang said before leaving for New Delhi.
As many as 16 rebel Congress legislators are demanding Lapang�s removal. Many are unhappy for not getting a Cabinet berth.
However, Lapang does not want to comment on the rebels� demand. �I don�t want to comment anything on their (rebel) demand. They have the right to demand, but it is the high command which will decide on the issue,� Lapang said.
Incidentally, Lapang is visiting New Delhi for the second time in the past few weeks following demand for his removal. On March 17, Lapang rushed to New Delhi and met Ahmed Patel, the political secretary of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Meanwhile, rebel legislators met Patel, Luizinho Faleiro, Congress in-charge, Meghalaya and other AICC functionaries, apprising the top Congress leaders of their demand.
Lapang, meanwhile, reiterated that he would step down as leader of the CLP only if it was proved that he had lost the support of a majority of the legislators. �I am a disciplined Congressman,� he added.
In the 12-member Meghalaya United Alliance Cabinet eight berths are allotted to Congress legislators, rest are being held by allied party members of the coalition government.
The rebels are demanding that more Congress legislators are accommodated in the Cabinet. Lapang so far has not acceded to the demand.
