Meghalaya CM offers to step down if Cong wishes

But that would be only after the party high command asked him to do so, Lapang stressed.

With Congress dissidents claiming support of 20 of the 29 party legislators in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, Chief Minister DD Lapang on Thursday said he would step down if the high command asked him to do so.

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"If I do not enjoy the support of the majority MLAs, I will gracefully step down with a smile and blessing to my successor," Lapang, who has headed the Congress-led coalition government for the last three and a half years, told a press conference.

But that would be only after the party high command asked him to do so after examining the views of all the 29 Congress MLAs, Lapang stressed.

The high command would send its observer and CWC member in-charge of Meghalaya Oscar Fernandes and AICC secretary Maj (retd) Ved Prakash for a crucial CLP meeting scheduled on June 12, although no formal date was received in writing, he said.

Asked if the CLP voted for a change of leadership, but the central leadership wanted to retain him, he said the high command would have the final word.

"Even some ministers in the Lapang cabinet have shown willingness to be with us. But for obvious reasons they cannot come out openly," he claimed.