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`Iron man` of Meghalaya, B B Lyngdoh, dead
Shillong, Oct 27: Bringhto Buhai Lyngdoh, the `iron
Thrice chief minister of Meghalaya, though he never
completed a full term, Lyngdoh headed an alliance government
with the All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC), the Hill
State People`s Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Public Demand
Implementation Convention (PDIC) as long back as may 1979. The
APHLC had spearheaded the movement for carving out a separate
state from Assam.
Meghalaya was granted statehood in 1972 after a forceful
yet peaceful movement led by late Capt Williamson A Sangma and
Lyngdoh among others.
Lyngdoh, perhaps for the first time, also brought about
the concept of power sharing. He and late Capt Sangma agreed
to remain in the chief minister`s post for a two-year term
each from may 1979. He was able to complete his own two years.
Often dubbed as the `iron man` for his tough stand,
Lyngdoh never admitted any boundary dispute with neighbouring
Assam or the existence of insurgency in the state.
He even called a press conference to claim that there
were no extremists in Meghalaya, laying blame on only
extortionists and robbers.
Lyngdoh was also a strong supporter of direct election of the president and wrote several times to Rastrapati Bhawan and Prime Ministers on this.
Bureau Report