GUWAHATI: Even as crisis has been precipitated in the ruling Congress in Assam owing to the resignation submitted by rebel minister Himanta Bishwa Sarma to press for Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s ouster, his ministerial colleagues want the party high command to expelthe rebel minister from the party on disciplinary ground.
After a closed door meeting held in the official chamber of Akon Borah , one of the cabinet ministers, at least thirteen ministers in Gogoi’s cabinet have sent a memorandum to the Congress high command demanding disciplinary action against Sarma.
Emerging from the meeting of the ministers, Tarun Gogoi loyal, Power and Industries minister Pradyut Bardoloi said, “Dr Sarma has crossed the lakshman rekha by tendering his resignation to the Governor instead of knocking at the doors of the party high command or the chief minister, seeking redressal of his grievances as per the norms laid down by the party.”
Bardoloi said about that about thirteen ministers in Gogoi’s cabinet have sent a joint letter to the party high command requesting the latter to expel Dr Sarma from the party on disciplinary ground.
Reacting to the action of the ministers, Dr Sarma said, “I wish good luck to those who want my expulsion from the party. The party is free to take any action against me.”
Meanwhile, at least three ministers from the rebel MLAs camp- Ardhendu Dey, Gautom Roy and Siddique Ahmed and parliamentary secretaries Raju Sahu and Abu Taher Bepari have also expressed their willingness to quit office as sequel to resignation submitted by Dr Sarma.
However, they haven’t informed when they are going to resign.
One of the rebel ministers, Siddique Ahmed said that all the rebel MLAs did not quit today as they did not want to destabilize the Congress government in Assam.
“The dissident MLAs want ouster of Tarun Gogoi but not toppling of the Congress government.” Ahmed said.
