Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi faces first rebellion

NEW DELHI: It all started at a dinner party at Congress MLA Chandan Sarkar’s home in Guwahati last week. And it turned into the first rebellion against three-time Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi as a third of his MLAs defiantly questioned his authority.

Twenty-six of 79 Congress MLAs in Assam assembly openly questioned Gogoi’s ‘autocratic style’ of functioning, over-dependence on bureaucracy and ‘arrogance’ in brushing away suggestions from first-time and younger legislators.

While the Congress high command has moved swiftly to quell it and bring peace within the party for the time being, Gogoi’s authority has been seriously challenged.

The fact that a rebellion could reach these proportions has created an alternate power centre in state education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is considered the architect of the rebellion.

The rebellion triggered a reverse campaign in Gogoi camp, which started a signature drive to show support for the CM. Within two days, the camp gathered signatures of 52 MLAs, who vouched support to Gogoi.