Tarun Gogoi gives final touch to cabinet reshuffle, working out formula for induction and dropping

GUWAHATI: Electoral drubbing in Maharastra and Haryana has forced AICC to have a re look in Assam. AICC wants complete overhaul of cabinet ministers with induction of fresh faces in the 13 year old congress government.

Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi is in New Delhi to get the high command’s nod for much awaited cabinet reshuffle. Gogoi is likely to meet Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday. Gogoi discussed the names of probable to be inducted in the ministry with General Secretary in-charge Dr CP Joshi on Monday in New Delhi

BJP has positioned Mahendra Singh as in-charge for the party in Assam. A move which is seen as Party President Amit Shah’s attempt to galvanize Saffron party in Assam ahead of 2016 assembly polls. Singh was in charge of Uttar Pradesh during Lok Sabha polls where BJP produced spectacular results.

Singh who is core member of Shah’s team will come to Guwahati on November 8 and have first hand information of the party affairs here.

AICC is working on certain formulas to provide fresh look to Assam congress which is riddled with infighting and dissident activity.

A senior congress leader in AICC said, “One formula which is almost final is that inefficient ministers will be dropped. This formula is likely to yield two berths. While there are four ministries where there is vacancy and chief minister along with other ministers are additionally looking after those ministries,”

The leader added that another suggestion from AICC is to change the department or drop those ministers who have completed 10 years in the department. “However under this formula “the big five” cabinet ministers of the Tarun Gogoi’s cabinet will be axed. Chief Minister has reservations on this formula as his cabinet will become completely an inexperienced lot and will axe his loyalist who stood by him when anti Gogoi camp had raised banner of revolt against his leadership.”

The leader argued, “ We to need to present something new to the people in Assam as BJP has deeply intruded the traditional support bases of congress and has won seven seats out of 14 Lok Sabha seats. Fresh faces will help us pulling back our traditional voters from different communities as Assam is going to polls in 2016. ”

BJP’s overture of positioning Singh in Assam has sent Pradesh congress committee (PCC) to recharge the party organization.

PCC is gearing up for organisational elections which are likely to be held by the end of this year. Surprisingly heavyweight congress leaders are vying for the post of party president. There are as many as nine aspirants for the coveted post.

Recently Pradesh congress has organised the meeting of the district presidents and ask them to start preparing party organization for polls and check inroad of Saffron party.