Paul Lyngdoh

Shillong, June 23: Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang took the bold decision of accepting his colleague Paul Lyngdoh?s resignation on the eve of the crucial cabinet meeting that is expected to determine the course of the controversy surrounding the state board of school education.

Lyngdoh, who was in charge of agriculture, sports and youth affairs in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, resigned on Friday after openly expressing his unhappiness over the way Lapang had handled the crisis. The president of the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement described his resignation as ?a tactical retreat? instead of a surrender.

On hearing that his resignation had been accepted, he said: ?I have done my bit and spoken about it in the cabinet.?

The chief minister?s acceptance of Lyngdoh?s resignation surprised many, considering Lapang has convened a cabinet meeting tomorrow to find an ?amicable solution? to the imbroglio.

The Khasi Students Union (KSU), of which Lyngdoh is a former president, wants the school education board to be bifurcated and the proposed higher secondary wing shifted from Tura to Shillong.

Lyngdoh had been mounting pressure on Lapang to discuss the issue at a cabinet meeting. He resigned after the cabinet refused to accept his suggestion to appoint a controller of examinations for the higher secondary wing.

KSU president Samuel Jyrwa declined to comment on the connotations of the government?s decision to accept the resignation. He said the organisation would review all developments at a central executive committee meeting on Saturday.

On Monday, the government suddenly agreed to meet the core demands of the KSU but failed to convince the student organisation to call off its agitation. R.G. Lyngdoh, chairperson of the committee constituted to negotiate with the KSU, said the government would appoint ?a full-time chairman-cum-chief executive officer with a secretary and a reorganised team of officers? for the board both in Shillong and Tura.

The move triggered arson in the Garo hills.

The KSU chief today clarified that his organisation?s campaign was not against the people of the Garo hills. ?They should not feel threatened by the chief minister?s decision (to appoint a secretary for the board in Shillong). It is for the whole state and not just for the Khasi, Jaintia or Garo hills.?