Speaking to reporters here after returning from New Delhi, Lyngdoh, who is also a veteran Congress leader, said, “I admit that the crisis within the CLP has dented the party’s image. Even the rank and file of the party have been looking for unity among the legislators. But this dent in the party’s image could be a temporary phase.”
Stressing that there was no infighting within the legislature party, Lyngdoh said, “We only have misunderstandings among legislators. But everything can be resolved whenever the CLP meeting is convened.”
While stating that it was the prerogative of chief minister Mukul Sangma to convene the CLP meeting, Lyngdoh said the AICC leadership can also step in to direct the CLP leader to have a meeting with all 28 Congress legislators.
“A CLP meeting is required to enable all legislators to frankly discuss whatever grievances they may have. It is the best forum to resolve the crisis,” Lyngdoh reiterated.
For over two months now, the CLP has been in disarray, courtesy the rumblings among legislators themselves who are disagreeing on Mukul Sangma’s leadership.
Till recently, as many as 18 of the 28 legislators had projected veteran leader and former chief minister D.D. Lapang as Mukul’s replacement. They have even requested AICC president Sonia Gandhi to intervene and ask the chief minister to hold a CLP meeting.
However, instead of convening the meeting, Mukul, with the blessings of the AICC, dropped four ministers from his cabinet who were believed to be supporting Lapang.
Initially, Lyngdoh’s name also surfaced among those about to face the axe. The deputy chief minister had gone on record saying Mukul had lost majority support in the CLP as 18 legislators were against him.
“I never anticipated that anyone would be dropped from the cabinet,” Lyngdoh said, when asked whether he, too, could be axed from the ministry.
While Lyngdoh never anticipated it, Mukul went ahead and axed four ministers — Prestone Tynsong, Frankenstein W. Momin, Augustine D. Marak and Founder S. Cajee — from the cabinet. A.L. Hek, Shitlang Pale and Saleng A. Sangma replaced them on Tuesday.
Umroi legislator Stanly Wiss Rymbai was also on the list of cabinet ministers to be inducted. He, however, chose to create history by staying away from the swearing-in ceremony.
Till today, Sangma has kept the berth open for Rymbai, who claimed to have fallen ill on the day he was to be administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor R.S. Mooshahary.
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