Shillong: Assam Health Minister Himanta
Biswa Sharma met Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang here last
evening, sparking speculation that he has been asked by the
Congress high command to work-out a patch-up with the
revolting legislators.
Sharma, who is said to have played a key role in the
collapse of the last NCP-led government, returned to Guwahati
yesterday after a closed-door meeting with Lapang.
There was no official word but party sources confirmed
he discussed with Lapang the ongoing revolt by some
disgruntled Congress MLAs seeking berths in the ministry.
Sharma is expected to visit the state again, they said.
At least nine rebel Congress MLAs are demanding that
the three independent MLAs and the lone legislator from Khyun
Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) be dropped and
senior Congress MLAs accommodated in the council of ministers
in the Congress-led government. They had even gone to New
Delhi and moved the AICC.
Intervention of top AICC leaders has brought the
revolt under control for the time being, but Congress insiders
said there could be a cabinet reshuffle after the conclusion
of the budget session on March 26.
Last week, Chief Minister Lapang met Congress
President Sonia Gandhi?s Political Secretary Ahmed Patel and
AICC Secretary-in-charge Meghalaya, Luizinho Falerio and
discussed the grievances of the rebel MLAs in New Delhi.
Party sources said Lapang was reluctant to drop the
independents and the KHNAM MLA, who were instrumental in
dislodging the previous NCP-led government.
Only six Congress MLAs found berths in Lapang
ministry.
The current ruling Congress alliance, sworn-in last
year after the fall of the NCP-led government, enjoys the
support of 44 legislators - 28 from Congress, 9 from UDP, two
from Hill State People's Democratic Party, one from Khyun
Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement and four Independents.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, March 21, 2010, 21:30