Forest minister Prestone Tynsong in Shillong on Friday. Picture by UB Photos

Shillong, Aug. 19: The Congress Legislature Party has asked all its legislators to be present during the weeklong Assembly session scheduled to start from September 9. Apprehending a threat from the dissident camp, the party will also issue a whip to the legislators to vote for the government whenever a government bill is passed.

Meghalaya PCC president Friday Lyngdoh told reporters today that former chief minister D.D. Lapang and 12 others who had revolted against Mukul Sangma had given a written assurance that they will continue to support Sangma.

“I have already received the letter of their support and it was also forwarded to the AICC,” Lyngdoh said.

Still, the party is not confident that the session will be very smooth, as some dissident Congress legislators can either remain absent or support a motion against the government.

The law and order situation in Garo Hills is worse because of the rise in militant activities unleashed by the GNLA.

If a no-confidence motion is brought by the NCP against Sangma in the Assembly and if a majority of the Congress legislators supports the motion, the government will be in trouble. Moreover, if Sangma cannot pass any government bills, it would embarrass the government.

The PCC president said there would be a CLP meeting ahead of the Assembly session to ensure unity. A meeting of the members of the Congress-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance will also be held prior to the session.

Sangma has already met Lapang to seek unity of the CLP legislators.

There are reports that the dissidents are trying to project deputy chief minister Rowell Lyngdoh as the next leader.

The chief minister had tried to pacify the dissident legislators after dropping four ministers — Prestone Tynsong, Founder Cajee, Augustine Marak and F.W. Momin — from the ministry on June 7 and accommodated new faces — Shitlang Pale, Saleng Sangma and A.L. Hek.