A blame game has begun within the Congress, even as legislators of the newly formed Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) decided to stake their claims to form the government in Meghalaya.

Sources within the party said that most of the newly elected Congress MLAs have expressed their discontentment with the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader D D Lapang and Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee President O L Nongtdu, for their "inability to convince their regional parties" to ally with them in forming the next government".

The Congress, which emerged as the single largest party, has fallen short by just six seats to cross the majority threshold in the 60-member Assembly.

AICC secretary Major (Retd) Ved Prakash, who has been camping in the state, dashed off to the National Capital on Saturday night, leaving the state Congress leaders and Congress legislators to tackle the political matter.

There was a mad scramble of legislators visiting Lapang's residence.

Some of the first-timers were especially worried over the recent political development of a non-Congress alliance cobbling up 31 MLAs' support.

Meanwhile, senior party leader Dr Mukul Sangma and Union Minister P R Kyndiah were silently projecting themselves as prospective CLP leaders, sources added.

However, no one was available to comment on the issue.