By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on Friday witnessed high drama as the elected legislators and the AICC leaders found it difficult to select the new CLP leader and had to consult Congress president Sonia Gandhi over the phone.
Vexed with the task of selecting the CLP leader, the Congress MLAs resolved to allow Sonia to make a selection.
According to AICC observer Vayalar Ravi, the suggestion to seek the AICC president’s advice on the new CLP leader was made by MPCC president DD Lapang.
“All the party MLAs endorses the suggestion of the senior party leader (Lapang),” Ravi told reporters later.
Ravi also informed that he and AICC general secretary in charge Meghalaya Mukul Wasnik spoke to the AICC president over the phone and informed her that the party MLAs wanted her to elect the new CLP leader.
“She also spoke to Lapang and Chief Minister designate Dr Mukul Sangma,” the AICC observer said, while informing that Sonia also congratulated the State Congress for the impressive performance in the election.
Ravi informed that the AICC president, while indicating that Dr Sangma would be the new CLP leader for this term, had urging Lapang to work with the Chief Minister designate as a combined force.
Assuring that the new Government would last for the full five-year term, the Union Minister said, “The Congress party is committed to provide a stable Government.”
Earlier, Dr Sangma after being elected as the new CLP leader said he was a little worried because the responsibility was huge as the Government’s performance must commensurate with the high expectations of the people.
“The mandate that has been given to us by the people reflects the amount of expectations they have. Therefore, as we move forward from now, our responsibility will be definitely huge. But I am sure we can live up to the expectations of the people,” the Chief Minister designate said.
“We assure you that we will do all that is necessary to live up to the expectations of the people,” he added.