Guwahati: Much-awaited reshuffle of Tarun Gogoi ministry is finally on the card with all the 14 ministers on Monday submitting resignation to the chief minister Tarun Gogoi as per the blue print prepared by Congress high-command .
Their resignations came after the Congress high-command gave Gogoi the go-ahead to carry out the reshuffle exercise. Three of the ministers have sent letter of their resignation to the chief minister without going to the latter’s official residence.
A Congress party source informed that the new ministry is likely to take oath on January 23 at the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhawan.
Many senior ministers especially those who have remained minister since the Congress came to the power in 2001, are expected to be replaced by new faces by Gogoi who is going to exploit the opportunity to weaken the dissident group of MLAs led by former education and health minister Dr Himanta Bishwa Sarma.
The demand for reshuffle of the minister was first raised by dissent leader Dr Himanta Bishwa Sharma in the summer last year in order to impart efficiency to the ministry.
The rebel MLAs’ group led by him even demanded ouster of the chief minister Tarun Gogoi which was not heeded by the party high-command.
Ultimately, the dissident group’s leader Dr Sarma had to quit the ministry on its own saying that it had become impossible for him to work as a minister under chief minister Tarun Gogoi.
Meanwhile, three of the dissident rebel MLAs including Rekibuddin Ahmed, Abu Taher Bepari and Mansing Rongpi have been made party observers for the forthcoming Delhi Assembly election with responsibility of one Assembly segment each. It has been construed as a strategic move by AICC to keep dissident MLAs busy with party assignments while Gogoi reshuffles his ministry.
