From CK Nayak
Dissidents take step number two: Meet Rahul Gandhi
NEWDELHI: Top dissident Congress leaders led by MPCC chief DD Lapang continued their tirade against Mukul Sangma by meeting the party vice-president Rahul Gandhi here on Wednesday and put forward their demand for removal of the Chief Minister.
This time Lapang was accompanied by two dissident Ministers- Prestone Tynsong and HDR Lyngdoh besides former Speaker M M Danggo, AICC sources said on Wednesday.
“Rahulji gave us a patient hearing and wanted to know if we have apprised the party chief Sonia Gandhi about their demand,” one of the dissident leaders told The Shillong Times on condition of anonymity.
The dissidents also held several meetings among themselves and with the Shillong MP Vincent H Pala. But Pala did not go with them to Rahul Gandhi since he had not taken any appointment with the vice-president.
The dissidents briefed the party Vice President about the party’s position in Meghalaya which is riddled with rampant discontentment and dissatisfaction ever since the last Lok Sabha polls. “If no corrective measure is taken the party’s position will go from bad to worse,” the dissident leaders told Rahul.
The Vice-President expressed concern over the state of affairs in the party. He also advised the leaders to keep the party’s support base intact and work unitedly, AICC sources said separately.
Lapang and Tynsong had met Sonia on Tuesday to apprise her about the state of affairs in the state.
Sonia is understood to have told them that it is the duty of the PCC president to apprise the state of affairs to the AICC from time to time.
This time the dissent is also fuelled by the opposition NPP and some Independent MLAs too.
Our Reporter adds:Meanwhile, the MPCC chief’s personal assistant Charles Marngar in a separate statement issued on Wednesday confirmed the meeting between Rahul Gandhi and the Lapang-led group.
“All the leaders have urged the AICC vice-president to resolve the matter at the earliest,” Marngar said in the statement.
Marngar also said that Rahul assured them that he would raise the issue with Sonia Gandhi.