Rymbai and Lapang

Shillong, Feb. 27: A defiant band of legislators loyal to J.D. Rymbai today challenged the AICC’s verdict on the leadership tussle in Meghalaya, even warning the high command against “meddling in the affairs of the state”.

Calling for a “people’s verdict” rather than an intra-party one, the Rymbai faction said the AICC complicated the situation in its attempt to play arbiter.

The rebellion in Meghalaya coincided with electoral setbacks for the Congress in Punjab and Uttarakhand and came a day after the announcement of the outcome of the “secret ballot” that was conducted on January 17 to decide Rymbai’s fate.

Two AICC leaders, Oscar Fernandez and Ved Prakash, were in Shillong yesterday to break the suspense over the controversial exercise. The duo told Rymbai that he was no longer the choice of the majority of the 29 Congress legislators and advised him to return the reins of power to predecessor D.D. Lapang.

Home minister R.G. Lyngdoh made no secret of his displeasure at the way the AICC handled the leadership crisis. “We now have to listen to what the people have to say and, therefore, it is better to go to polls. The secret ballot has not done the party and the government any good,” he said.

Sullen after being asked to step down, the embattled chief minister perked up on seeing his supporters putting up a spirited defence of his ability to lead the state. “My MLAs told the two AICC observers that they would not accept the decision without tangible proof,” Rymbai said.

Rymbai asked for three days’ time from the AICC to decide his next move. He will visit New Delhi on Thursday and speak to Sonia Gandhi directly. R.G. Lyngdoh singled out Ved Prakash as the perpetrator of the crisis. He said the AICC observer “allowed” the leadership tussle to continue. His ministerial colleague Irene Lyngdoh, too, blamed the AICC for the crisis.

Legislator Prestone Tyngsong said the only solution now appeared to be early elections. “If factionalism in the Congress remains, it is better to allow people to give their mandate.”

On the other hand, Lapang appears to be in no mood to let go of the opportunity to avenge his ouster in similar circumstances on June 15 last year.

The Election Commission is reported to be already contemplating advancing Assembly elections in Meghalaya. Sources said polls could be held as early as in December. Elections were originally slated for April 2008.