Congress veteran D D Lapang quits party

In a major blow to the Congress in Meghalaya, five-time Chief Minister Donwa Dethwelson Lapang resigned from the party, accusing the leadership of adopting a policy of "phasing out" senior leaders.

In his resignation letter to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Thursday night, Lapang said he was resigning "reluctantly and with a heavy heart".

The former Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief accused the AICC of embarking upon a policy of phasing out senior and elderly people.

"In my opinion it means that service and contribution of senior and elderly people is no longer useful to the party," he said in the letter, copies of which were made available to the media.

Lapang said, "This restriction made me frustrated and compelled me to be no longer comfortable in the party."