By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) convened by Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Friday may have resolved the leadership issue within the party but it appears that the ‘former’ dissidents are now training their guns on DD Lapang for his ‘deal’ with Dr Sangma.
These dissidents, despite pledging their support to Dr Sangma at Friday’s CLP meeting, have once again voiced their dissatisfaction against Lapang for switching allegiance to the incumbent Chief Minister without consulting them.
FW Momin, a dissident leader who had earlier revolted against Dr Sangma’s leadership, on Saturday said he had pledged his support to the Chief Minister since he was left with no other option.
“I had to agree to support Dr Sangma as I did not want to be left out alone,” he stated while talking to this scribe.
“Lapang should have discussed the matter with other leaders in the dissident group,” Momin added.
Another leader from Garo Hills, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also blamed Lapang for the ‘humiliating defeat’ of the dissident group because of the strange stand adopted by Lapang.
“He (Lapang) was the most vocal among the dissident group but he himself gave in,” the senior leader stated.
When asked whether he had been assured of a Cabinet berth in future for supporting Dr Sangma, the legislator replied in the negative stating no such assurance had been given to him.
Meanwhile, the legislators — Sayeedullah Nongrum, Nehlang Lyngdoh and Stanleywiss Rymbai — who skipped Friday’s CLP meeting have claimed that their absence were unintentional.
Sayeeduallah Nongrum claimed that he had written a letter to the State Congress leadership stating his inability to attend the CLP meet.
“I could not attend as I was busy in my prayers during the holy month of Ramzan,” he said.
Stanelywiss Rymbai, when contacted, explained that he had been in Kolkata since the past one week.
Reiterating his support to Dr Sangma, Rymbai said, “I am in favour of Dr Sangma and he is like my brother who always looks after my constituency.”
He also expressed his happiness that Lapang was finally supporting the incumbent Chief Minister, adding, “I am happy that Lapang is on our side now.”