SHILLONG: With the dissidents citing the delay in change of leadership as the reason for the exodus of some legislators to other political parties, state Congress chief DD Lapang said on Thursday that they should have had the required number to the change the leader.
Speaking to reporters, Lapang said the AICC wanted the numbers to effect the change of leadership, but the legislators who wanted the removal of the chief minister, did not have the requisite numbers.
“We need to have the numbers and the AICC cannot forcefully change anyone as the CLP leader is elected by the majority of legislators”, Lapang said, adding that the dissidents did not approach the AICC in a united manner.
In the past, when there was a move to change the leader, some legislators did not prefer Lapang to be the next leader and the division in the Congress Legislature Party resulted in the chief minister enjoying the majority.
The dissident legislators had said though they loved the Congress party, what they disliked was the CLP leader.
According to Lapang, individual likes or dislikes do not matter in CLP as “the magic is the majority and whoever enjoys that will continue to be in power”.
Best wishes to
CB Syiem
With CB Syiem, the close aide of MPCC chief DD Lapang, joining NPP, the veteran leader admitted that Syiem was a good organiser of the party.
“He worked with me for 45 years and I liked him as he was a good organiser,” Lapang said.
Syiem will take on Lapang in Nongpoh in the 2018 polls. According to Lapang, there was nothing wrong for Syiem to contest the polls.
“There have been contests between husband and wife and father and son. We should have a big heart,” Lapang said.
He also said if Syiem wins the polls, he would be the first one to bless him as there was no bitterness in him.
“When Constantine Lyngdoh defeated me in 1993, I was the first one to wish him saying that now you are my MLA,” Lapang recollected.
