Former Chief Minister Donwa Dethwelson Lapang, popularly known as Dr DD Lapang, passed away on Friday night at Bethany Hospital, Shillong. He was 93. Family sources said Lapang had been battling age-related ailments for a prolonged period. He is survived by his wife, Amethyst Lynda Jomes Blah, and two children. Born on April 10, 1932, Lapang began his political journey by contesting the 1972 Assembly elections from Nongpoh as an independent candidate, where he was elected MLA.
Over the years, he went on to serve as Chief Minister of Meghalaya on four occasions. His first stint as Chief Minister was from 1992 to February 1993. He returned to the post on March 4, 2003, but stepped down on June 15, 2006, following dissidence within the coalition government. Lapang was again sworn in as Chief Minister in March 2007.
After the 2008 Assembly elections, he took oath on March 10, 2008, but with support from only 28 members in the 60-seat Assembly, he resigned just nine days later. His fourth and final tenure as Chief Minister began on May 13, 2009, following two months of President’s Rule in the state. He resianed from the post on April 19.