SHILLONG: In a new twist to the ongoing political rumblings, sources said, Union Minister of State for Water Resources Vincent Pala has projected Deputy Chief Minister Rowell Lyngdoh to replace Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma.
While confirming this, Congress sources said Lyngdoh has been projected by Pala to become the new CLP leader if at all the demand for ouster of Mukul Sangma materialised.
“However, the Pala-led group is yet to have the requisite number,” the sources said.
Observers feel intention of the Union Minister is obvious considering his “aim to become the Chief Minister” after 2013 Assembly elections.
“If Mukul and Lapang were out of power now, Pala would be ahead in the race for the Chief Minister post then,” the sources said.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Rowell Lyngdoh denied being projected to be the new CLP leader.
Political analysts feel he has been projected to emerge as a “comprise leader” in the wake of the demand by dissidents for bringing in Lapang once again to the helm of affairs.
“I am okay with Dr Mukul as the Chief Minister and I have no aspiration at all to be the CLP leader. I am alright with any leader be it Dr Mukul or Mr Lapang,” he asserted.
Lyngdoh also criticised any move to topple the present government saying there is no reason for such demand.
“The need of the hour is to focus on development since things under the leadership of Dr Mukul are moving in right direction,” he said.
Meanwhile, Congress sources asserted that the demand for change of leadership has gained momentum with the dissident group aggressively
putting pressure on the AICC to remove Mukul Sangma.