- Party leaders to discuss grievances of dissidents

Shillong, March 15: The AICC has summoned chief minister D.D. Lapang to Delhi to discuss the grievances of the disgruntled Congress legislators, who are demanding a change in leadership in the Congress and a ministry reshuffle.

Several Congress legislators have been camping in Delhi since the past few days to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi after a series of meetings with the AICC leaders.

Lapang, who met reporters at his residence today along with nine Congress legislators and an independent MLA, said he would leave for Delhi on Wednesday to meet the AICC leaders.

The Congress dissidents are demanding that the leadership should be changed if Lapang cannot effect a reshuffle in the ministry by dropping the lone KHNAM legislator, Paul Lyngdoh, and the three Independents — A.T. Mondal, Ismail Marak and Limison Sangma.

Lapang said the issue of dropping these ministers would depend on the high command.

Asked about Lyngdoh’s move to join the Congress, Lapang said the member would be welcomed to the party only if there was a political compulsion.

On the issue of a change of leadership, Lapang said if a majority wished for it, he would pave the way for any other leader.

The fresh demand for change of leadership is in the aftermath of Sonia Gandhi’s visit to Shillong.

The dissidents have conveyed to the Congress president their resentment over the chief minister’s delay in dropping at least four ministers to accommodate four senior Congress legislators in the ministry.

According to the dissidents, as the Congress has to face the Assembly elections in 2013, the only way to consolidate the party’s position is to induct more Congress legislators into the ministry.

The dissidents also cited the lack of performance of some of the ministers under Lapang’s leadership as another reason that compelled them to ask for a change of leadership and a reshuffle.

In May last year, the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) came into power after toppling the erstwhile UDP-NCP led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government, with the support of Independents and the regional parties.

However, Lapang said the immediate reason for the rebellion among some Congress legislators was that the government has reduced the number of wholesalers of foodgrain from 600 to 219 in the state for the sake of transparency and accountability.

He said some legislators were not happy that the government reduced the number of wholesalers in a bid to streamline the fair distribution of foodgrain.

According to Lapang, another reason for the revolt was the delay in the appointment of schoolteachers.