Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi rules out Congress legislature party meet on leadership issue

GUWAHATI: As the rebels in Congress are adamant on having Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting, pro chief minister Tarun Gogoi camp has ruled out the possibility of having CLP meeting on the leadership issue.

Gogoi camp stated the decision to hold CLP or not is the purely discretion of CLP leader.

Congress dissidents want Gogoi to prove that majority is with him that to within seven to ten days in presence of AICC observer.

Parliamentary Secretary (Home) and Gogoi loyalist, Atuwa Munda told ET calling CLP or not is the prerogative of the chief minister who is the leader of the CLP.

He said, “There can be demand for CLP from congress members however acceding to the demand and calling for the meeting is something which the CLP leader decides and no one can impose that leader has to call for the CLP.”

Sources in Gogoi's camp said, “Our strategy is delay the whole thing and get extra time. Gogoi has 36 MLAs presently with him and around three are in touch.Around eight legislators who are fence setter. We just need 39 MLAs to prove our majority and managing three MLAs will not be difficult for us. Already we have opened up talks and are reaching out to them.”

Congress had 79 MLAs in the house of 126 member Assam assembly, one legislator has passed away while other has resigned, making the number 77. Dissident camp claim to have the support of 40 MLAs.