Lapang, Mukul bury hatchet?
From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI: Continuing uncertainties in Meghalaya Congress is likely to set for an end with the mega patch-up reached between the dissidents led by DD Lapang and Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and his loyalists in the presence of party supremo Sonia Gandhi and a galaxy of top AICC functionaries here on Friday.
Pointing out that Assembly elections are only a year away, Ms Gandhi urged all the leaders to go back to the people and restore the unity among the party workers for a united fight. They must do it at the first opportunity and carry on the flagship programmes of the UPA Government and the party to win back the people’s confidence, she said, according to party sources here.
At this point, Lapang pointed out that the party leaders cutting across factions want unity but something should be done to look after the interest of the four Cabinet ministers who were dropped recently. The party president reportedly assured that interest of all concerned would be looked into once they work as one team.
Besides Mukul and Lapang, sacked minister, Prestone Tynsong, AICC leaders — Ahmed Patel (political secretary), Oscar Fernandes (CWC member), Dr Dhaniram Shandil (general secretary in-charge Meghalaya) and his deputy Sanjay Bapna were present in the meeting at 10 Janpath, the official residence of Sonia Gandhi.
Dr Sangma on his part also assured that the party and the Government would work in tandem. Congress will face the next polls as one undivided entity, he added.
It is understood that one or more dropped ministers would be taken back in the Cabinet and Lapang will continue to play his role as Chief Advisor to the Government.
There was, however, no decision on the threat of resignation of four Garo MLAs including two former ministers in Mukul’s Cabinet — AD Marak, FW Momin, Sayeedullah Nongrum and Samuel Sangma.
The four had written to ‘Madam’ expressing their desire to resign from the membership of the Assembly apprehending rout of the Congress party in the 2013 polls if the leadership is not changed.
The ground for Friday’s meeting was set on Thursday itself with Lapang being called to the AICC by CWC member and former general secretary in-charge of the State Oscar Fernandes who was trying for a rapprochement between the two factions. Dr Sangma joined later and all had a discussion over the state of affairs.
Later, both Lapang and Tynsong met Dr Sangma in the Meghalaya House where all of them are staying together for the first time.
Lapang who was summoned to New Delhi by the party high command left for Shillong immediately after the meeting. Prestone is leaving on Saturday.