He confirmed that his trusted aide Mukul M. Sangma, deputy chief minister, now had the CLP’s support. “We are waiting for the approval of Mrs Sonia Gandhi on the leadership change,” he said. His comments came a day after Mr Sangma was chosen the new CLP leader by 21 out of 28 party MLAs.
Rebel Congress MLAs had earlier met Mrs Gandhi and other top AICC leaders to demand a leadership change. With the rebellion escalating, many of Mr Lapang’s Cabinet colleagues also joined in the chorus for the CM’s ouster.
The CLP rebellion started in March after 14 Congress MLAs had asked Mr Lapang to sack two Indep-endent legislators — Ismail R. Marak and Limison Sangma — as well as Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) leader Paul Lyngdoh. They wanted Congressmen to be inducted in their place. If Mr Sangma takes over, he will be the state’s fourth chief minister in a little over two years.
Manoj Anand