No change in leadership in Meghalaya: Congress
January 17th, 2011 - 9:59 pm ICT by IANSShillong, Jan 17 (IANS) Ruling out a change of leadership in Meghalaya, the Congress Monday asked its legislators to perform rather than demand the removal of party leader Mukul Sangma as chief minister.A Congress minister in the Sangma cabinet admitted that dissidence against the chief minister was brewing among party legislators.
“They (dissidents) are not happy with the style and functioning of Mukul (Sangma). He comes to office very late and takes unilateral decisions on several projects without consulting others,” the minister told IANS, on condition of anonymity.
The dissidents were projecting Sangma’s predecessor D.D. Lapang as their new leader in the legislature.
Congress general secretary in-charge of Meghalaya Luizinho Faleiro denied the rebellion.
“Where are the dissidents? I don’t think they (Congress legislators) have any more time to change the leader (ahead of the next polls in 2013). Instead, they should start performing or else they will perish in the assembly elections,” Faleiro told IANS.
The former Goa chief minister-turned-Congress general secretary is scheduled to visit Shillong, the state capital of Meghalaya, this weekend to oversee the implementation of the United Progressive Alliance government’s flagship schemes.
Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee chief Friday Lyngdoh had warned disciplinary action against legislators going against the party.
“Some people have personal interests. Even God cannot satisfy these people,” Lyngdoh said, adding: “Mukul will complete the remaining term and the question of change of leadership does not arise.”
Political instability appears to have become a permanent feature in Meghalaya, which has seen four governments since the March 2008 election.
Meghalaya has seen nine governments with varied combinations, resulting in eight chief ministers, between 1998 and 2009. Since Meghalaya attained statehood in 1972, only two chief ministers have completed their five-year terms.
In the 60-member legislature, the Congress has 28 legislators and is supported by 16 others. The main opposition Nationalist Congress Party has 15 members.
- Lapang's name proposed for gubernatorial post - Jan 23, 2011
- Some legislators want Sangma out: Meghalaya Congress chief - Apr 14, 2011
- Meghalaya chief minister denies threat to government (LEAD) - Apr 15, 2011
- Rebel Meghalaya legislators seek chief minister's ouster - Jun 01, 2011
- Meghalaya chief minister confident of completing term - Apr 16, 2011
- Beleaguered Meghalaya chief minister leaves for Delhi - Jun 02, 2011
- Sangma to be elected next Meghalaya chief minister - Apr 19, 2010
- Rebels demand Congress legislators' meeting in Meghalaya - Apr 26, 2011
- Leadership rift in Meghalaya Congress - May 17, 2011
- No central rule, Meghalaya leadership issue resolved: Lyngdoh - Jun 03, 2011
- NCP demands president's rule in Meghalaya - Jun 03, 2011
- Threat to Sangma's government in Meghalaya: Minister - Apr 12, 2011
- Lapang admits losing majority support (Lead) - Apr 18, 2010
- Meghalaya's rebel Congress legislators to meet Sonia - Jun 05, 2011
- Congress deputes emissaries to broker peace in Meghalaya - Apr 19, 2011
Tags: alliance government, anonymity, assembly elections, chief minister, chief ministers, committee chief, congress committee, disciplinary action, dissidence, dissidents, general secretary, legislators, meghalaya, party leader, personal interests, political instability, progressive alliance, shillong, statehood, unilateral decisions