Election in Meghalaya

Congress hunt for ‘like-minded’ parties on

SHILLONG: In spite of being cold-shouldered by UDP, NCP and HSPDP, Congress continues to nourish the hope of heading a new government with support of what it calls like-minded parties, especially UDP.

Congress feels that all like-minded parties, including UDP, NCP and HSPDP, should join hands to form a government for the sake of political stability as well as development of the State.

Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Salseng C Marak on Thursday said he would try his best to negotiate with like-minded parties on formation of a government to end President's rule in the State.

Congress on Wednesday entrusted Mr Marak with the task of holding negotiations with other parties, although UDP, NCP and HSPDP have already made it clear that they would not like to betray MPA by joining forces with Congress.

Mr Marak believes that his friendship with new UDP Parliamentary Party leader JD Rymbai would help in stitching up a Congress-UDP alliance.

"UDP and Congress had worked together before. I see no problem in Congress and UDP coming together to provide a stable government in the State. JD Rymbai is one of my good friends and I will try my best to convince my friends in UDP and other like-minded parties, including NCP and HSPDP, to support Congress in formation of a new government," the veteran Congress leader said.

It may be noted here that Mr Marak had managed to run the Congress-led coalition government as Chief Minister for its full five-year term from 1993 to 1998.

Echoing similar views, Congress vice president and CLP spokesperson Dr Roytre C Laloo said Mr Marak had been asked to initiate talks with all like-minded friends, not just UDP.

"Congress has no problem working with other parties. Meghalaya is a small state, and we need political stability for its development," Dr Laloo said.

Reacting to NCP's and HSPDP's comments that they would not accept the Congress offer, he said, "I wonder as to why NCP cannot work with Congress in Meghalaya. In other states like Maharashtra and Goa and also at the Centre, NCP has worked with Congress."THE SHILLONG TIMES

Cong threatens legal action against Hoping Stone

Congress has threatened legal action against HSPDP president Hoping Stone Lyngdoh for accusing Congress of offering him Rs 1.5 core in return for his support to a possible Congress-led Government in the State.

Terming Mr Lyngdoh's allegation as "unfortunate and deceitful," MPCC general secretary Waibha K Kyndiah, in a statement issued here on Thursday, said his party might initiate legal action against the HSPDP chief if he failed to come clean on the charge he had levelled against Congress.

"Mr Lyngdoh's allegation against Congress is baseless and ambiguous. It is intended to tarnish the image of Congress. Congress is on a strong footing in Meghalaya and there is no need for it to buy any members of the State Legislative Assembly," Mr Kyndiah said. THE SHILLONG TIMES

UDP for Cong sans Lapang, Mukul

SHILLONG: The recent election of a new UDP Parliamentary Party leader appears to have had a ripple effect on Congress, too.

In a bid to convince UDP to support a possible Congress-led coalition government, a number of Congress legislators are trying to find a party man who can replace DD Lapang as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, although the job could be quite tough in view of the close rapport that Mr Lapang has with AICC leaders.

The names of senior party leader Rowell Lyngdoh and CLP spokesperson Dr Roytre C Laloo as the successor to Mr Lapang are doing the rounds.

According to sources, it could be difficult for Congress to win the support of UDP because of the reported displeasure among a section of UDP legislators with Mr Lapang continuing as the CLP leader.

Sources on Thursday said most UDP legislators had unofficially expressed their willingness to work out the modalities for formation of an alternate popular government in the State, provided Congress changed its legislature party leader.

"A Congress-UDP alliance can be realised only if it does not include Mr Lapang and Dr Mukul Sangma," a senior UDP leader told The Shillong Times on Thursday, adding the issue could come up during future negotiation between the two parties for the proposed government formation.

The Congress camp is presently divided between those legislators who are in favour of senior leader Rowell Lyngdoh as the new CLP leader and others, especially those from Jaintia Hills, who want Dr Roytre C Laloo to be the CLP leader.

Mr Lapang is, however, trying hard to strengthen his hold on the party by stating that he still enjoys support of the majority of the 26 party legislators. He has also claimed to have got the support of the four disqualified legislators - Paul Lyngdoh, Sanbor Shullai, Limison Sangma and Ismail Marak.

Congress sources said in the event of Mr Lapang losing the grip on his party legislators in his attempt to form a new government, he might even try to project his close confidante and State Congress president Friday Lyngdoh as his replacement, although such a move is likely to find no takers among party legislators.

Further, the election of JD Rymbai as the new UDP Parliamentary Party leader is being seen by many as a clear sign of UDP's strong opposition to any alliance led by Mr Lapang. Mr Rymbai and Mr Lapang had fought a bitter political battle in the past which culminated in the removal of the former from chief ministership in March 2007 and his subsequent resignation from Congress. THE SHILLONG TIMES