NEW DELHI, May 10 – Tumultuous days are ahead in Assam, with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi planning to start the process of trimming his ministry next month by asking his ministers to submit resignations en masse. The Chief Minister who paid a quiet week-end visit to Delhi apparently to gauge to the mood of the Party High Command in the aftermath of the oil-scam, however, could not meet Party president, Sonia Gandhi. Instead he briefed her close confident, organisation secretary, Oscar Fernandes about the recent developments. He is leaving for Assam tomorrow.
“We have began the process of handing over the case to the CBI and I have already directed the Chief Secretary to write to the Centre giving all the details about the case,” he told this newspaper. Also present in the capital was State Planning and Development Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma closely monitoring the developments. The Chief Minister has already given him a clean chit refusing to accept his resignation.
Meanwhile, heady political days could be ahead for the Chief Minister over the issue of cutting down the size of Ministry as some of the more powerful Congress Ministers could create trouble for him. Insider has it that the Chief Minister could use the opportunity to axe some his opponents who were getting to big for their boot. It was in this connection that his meeting with Fernandes assumes significance. He was reported to have briefed him about his plans before July 15 deadline expires.
Assam as rest of the States countrywide has to cut down the size of the Ministry to 15 per cent of the strength of the Assembly. “I plan to start the process of cutting down the size of the Ministry in June though I want to wait till the last moment,” Sri Gogoi said. One of the option before the Chief Minister is to follow what Maharastra Chief Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde did last month by asking all his Ministers to resign to enable him to choose his team.
The Congress Party, High Command may also step in to help the Congress-ruled States by working a uniform principle in order avoid open revolts, sources said. This is perhaps might be the reason for Sri Gogoi preferring to wait till the eleventh hour. But with the Congress High Command busy in election process it may be a while before it trains its attention to this issue.
Meanwhile, Sri Gogoi also briefed the Congress leadership about the performance of the Congress in the election claiming that they would repeat the 1999 performance. The Party High Command is engaged in a stock taking exercise and has been consulting its Chief Ministers. Though Sri Gogoi was confident, the exit polls have predicted gloomy scenario in Assam for Congress forecasting only three-four seats. The gainers were said to be BJP and AGP besides two odd seats going to smaller parties.