By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The four dissident ministers, who were dropped recently by Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, are likely to be reinstated as part of the compromise deal arrived at by the two warring factions in the CLP, according to DD Lapang.
“I have apprised AICC president Sonia Gandhi on the necessity to immediately create vacancies for the re-induction of the ministers who have been dropped,” the former Chief Minister told reporters after his meeting with the dissident Congress legislators here on Monday.
According to Lapang, the AICC president had also given her consent to the re-induction of the dropped ministers.
“A formula is being worked out on the directive of Madam (Sonia) for the re-induction of the dropped ministers,” the former Chief Minister said while also informing that she has directed her political secretary Ahmed Patel, AICC leader Oscar Fernandez and AICC general secretary in-charge Meghalaya Dhaniram Shandil to work out the formula.
This in essence means that the Chief Minister will have to take back Prestone Tynsong, Augustine D Marak, Founder S Cajee and FW Momin, who were dropped by him last month, and GAD Minister AL Hek, Community and Rural Development Saleng A Sangma and PHE Minister Shitlang Pale will have to make way for them.
When asked why they had settled for the re-induction when the actual demand was for a change of leadership, Lapang said since they have agreed for a truce, the question of change of leadership does not stand anymore.
“You may term this compromise as the defeat of the dissident group. We are members of the same family. This problem has to be resolved one way or the other. We are happy that Madam has intervened to resolve this matter,” he said.
Lapang said the AICC president had requested both the warring groups to sort out their differences and work unitedly since the Assembly election is not very far.
“This time the request has come from the AICC president herself. This carries more weight,” the former Chief Minister said when pointed out that this is not the first time that the AICC has urged the legislators to work unitedly.
When asked about the CLP, he said the issue of demanding for convening of the CLP has also ended.
“There is no hard and fast rules that the CLP has to be held regularly. There is only a convention in place where the CLP is held once a month,” Lapang said.
He, however, said he is hopeful that Dr Mukul would convene the CLP at the earliest to consolidate his position.
When asked if he had discussed with his colleagues before meeting AICC president and other senior leaders in Delhi, he admitted that it was not possible on his part to hold discussion with his colleagues since he was asked to immediately rush since Madam wanted to meet him.
“I could only contact Tynsong to accompany me to Delhi,” Lapang said while maintaining that he had continued to brief his fellow colleagues on the developments which transpired during the course of the discussion with the AICC president.
When asked about senior Congress legislator FW Momin who has come out openly questioning his decision to go to the high command without consulting his fellow colleague, he hoped that Momin would also accept the initiative he has taken to resolve the problem.
Interestingly, Momin among many other dissident Congress legislators including Rajabala Congress legislator Sayeedullah Nongrum were conspicuous by their absence from the meeting convened by Lapang.
Apart from the former Chief Minister, the Congress legislators who attended the meeting were Prestone Tynsong, Augustine D Sangma, Samuel M Sangma, Ronnie V Lyngdoh, Dr PW Khongjee, Sniawbhalang Dhar and Nehlang Lyngdoh.
Meanwhile, Lapang said the meeting’s resolution duly signed by all the dissident Congress legislators would be sent to the party high command.
CM rushes to US to see ailing wife
From Our Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma rushed to the United States on Sunday to attend to his ailing wife. He is expected to be back in a week.
His wife, undergoing treatment in a hospital in that country, is now recovering, reports said.
The Chief Minister had come here last week to attend two official functions and went to Guwahati in the meantime to attend a Planning Commission meeting.
He remained busy for a patch-up with the dissidents led by DD Lapang after the official meetings during which he met Sonia Gandhi and other top party leaders.