Mukul’s proposal gets Sonia’s seal of approval
From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI: Former Chief Minister DD Lapang is all set to become new Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief with Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday giving her seal of approval to Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma’s proposal to nominate the veteran party leader to the top party post.
Both Lapang and Dr Sangma met Mrs Gandhi at her residence here on Tuesday morning where the Chief Minister did most of the talking.
With elections a year away the party needs a strong leader like Lapang in the State, Dr Sangma told Mrs Gandhi to which she agreed to, party sources told The Shillong Times.
Lapang because of his seniority and accessibility will be acceptable to all the party leaders and workers, Dr Sangma said. He will also be able to balance the ethnic divide in the hill state, some AICC leaders felt.
According to sources, the outgoing president Friday Lyngdoh had extended his support to Lapang in writing to the Congress president before he tendered his resignation.
The State Congress had sent a panel of four names including Lapang’s to the AICC to choose.
Though Mrs Gandhi gave her informal consent, a notification will be out a few days later, party sources said.
With assembly elections approaching, the AICC avoided elections for the MPCC president’s post.
Dr Sangma reportedly also gave details of the fragile political situation in the hill state with three predominant tribes – Khasi, Jaintia and Garo. The AICC felt that with a Garo Chief Minister it would be suitable if a strong Khasi leader like Lapang is made PCC head.
For obvious reasons neither Dr Sangma nor Lapang were available for comments though both were in national capital.
While the Chief Minister will leave for Shillong on Wednesday, Lapang will be staying back for a few days.