Gogoi, mantri may patch up

May 20, 2013 - MANOJ ANAND |

Age Correspondent

GUWAHATI

The ongoing political tussle between Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma may come to end with the two leaders reaching an agreement to end the infighting.
Disclosing that the two leaders have agreed to work together, Congress insiders told this newspaper that AICC general secretary in-charge of Assam Digvijay Singh was instrumental in restoring the communication between the chief minister and the minister.
Referring to instances of chief minister attending the function of education department besides sharing dais with education minister, party sources said.
Mr Gogoi, in a lighter vein, said, “Differences do take place in a big family”.
Pointing out that Congress president Sonia Gandhi was not in favour of entertaining any demand of removing the chief minister at this juncture, Congress insiders said that a number of AICC leaders were of view that widening differences between the chief minister and education minister may affect the party prospects in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Indicating that the chief minister has been advised to avoid giving any provocative statement against party MLAs, insiders said that Mr Singh also asked dissident MLAs to drop their demand for change of leadership in the state. Insiders claimed that to end the conflict between the two camps, a Christian Adivasi leader Santiuse Kujur has been nominated for the second Rajya Sabha seat. Mr Kujur, who is an executive member of Bodoland Territorial Council in Lower Assam, does not belong to any camp in Assam Congress.
However, over 25 legislators who were rallying behind education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma are yet to give any formal assurance to Central party leaders to give up their dissident activities against Mr Gogoi.
Informing that dissident MLAs insisted on meeting Congress president in a group of four-five MLAs, party sources said that AICC general secretary asked them to ensure the victory of the party on both Rajya Sabha seats.

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