NEW DELHI/ SHILLONG: DD Lapang refused to withdraw his resignation on Friday despite requests from senior party members, including AICC president Rahul Gandhi.
Lapang, who is staying in Meghalaya House in Delhi, even refused to take calls from Rahul’s office, sources in AICC said.
Shillong MP Vincent H Pala had a two-hour meeting with the estranged leader in his room but in vain. “There is no question of coming back,” Lapang reportedly told Pala.
Neither Lapang nor Pala were available for comments.
Sonia Gandhi’s office also tried to establish contact with Lapang. But the 84-year-old leader remained evasive, unconfirmed reports said.
Lapang resigned from the party on Thursday accusing the central leadership of sidelining senior leaders.
Meanwhile, AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot also tried to talk to Lapang but he did not receive his calls.
Many other top Congress leaders tried to talk to the veteran leader or meet him personally but he avoided all.
A day before Lapang took the decision to resign, he attended a meeting of the District Congress Committee in Nongpoh along with Nongpoh legislator Mayralborn Syiem and Umroi legislator George Lyngdoh.
Lapang had given way to Syiem to contest from Nongpoh in the February 27 Assembly polls.
However, the party leaders and MLAs who attended the meeting did not have any clue about Lapang’s move the next day.
Congress spokesperson HM Shangpliang said on Friday that Lapang left for Delhi on Thursday afternoon and at night he tendered his resignation, which was a surprise and shock for the party.
Shangpliang said the state party leaders could not get in touch with Lapang on Thursday night and Friday.
CLP leader Mukul Sangma, who is camping in Garo Hills, has expressed shock and surprise over the decision of Lapang, according to Shangpliang.
The state leaders could not talk to MPCC president Celestine Lyngdoh, who was also not aware of the political development.
Shangpliang said when AICC leader Luizinho Faleiro was in Shillong, he wanted to meet Lapang at his residence and the matter was communicated to him.
“Since it was a Sunday and Lapang was busy with church related matter, he could not meet the AICC leader though both of them talked on phone for a long time,” Shangpliang said.
He said the party has great respect for Lapang and under his leadership, the Congress has risen in the state. He added that the party owes a lot to the great leader.
Terming the resignation as a great loss, Shangpliang said that the party would not sideline any senior leader and “it would love to have him as he is a father figure”.
He added that efforts will be made to reach out to him and request him to be in the party.
The senior leaders in Delhi are currently trying to convince Lapang to come back to the party, he said.
“We request him to reconsider his decision and stay with us as fatherly figure,” he said while adding that the party needs senior leaders like Lapang.
To a question on Lapang’s anguish over AICC sidelining him, Shangpliang said, “Congress has never sidelined him at all.”
He said since Lapang did not have good health, a new party president was selected in the past and he was made the advisor.
Lapang was involved in all meetings and party apprised him of all issues in the party, he added.
No surprise for Sawkmie
Opposition Chief Whip PT Sawkmie said he was not surprised at the decision of Lapang. “I am not surprised. It is all part of politics. It is bound to happen for the leader of a party which is not in power and there is nothing strange,” he said.
