Tarun Gogoi cabinet meets this evening, may stake claim tomorrow to form government for third consecutive time

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will chair the last Cabinet meeting of the outgoing government here this evening and is likely to meet Governor J B Patnaik tomorrow to stake claim to form the third consecutive Congress government in the state.

Gogoi has called a meeting of his outgoing ministers at his residence where a decision to tender resignation to the Governor to facilitate the formation of the next government was likely to be taken, official sources said.

The Congress Legislature Party is scheduled to meet on May 17 to elect the next chief minister where Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is also likely to be present.

Meanwhile, the chief minister said the next government would have to be formed on or before May 19 when the term of the currently Assembly expires.

Gogoi-led Congress government stormed back to power for the third successive term winning 78 of the 126 assembly seats in the state.