NEW DELHI, Aug 22 ? Rattled by the belligerent mood of the rival faction, the a group of MLAs has started a signature campaign in support of Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi. Amidst intense politicking among State Congressmen, a delegation of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) headed by the Chief Minister and Party president Bhubaneswar Kalita. met AICC president, Sonia Gandhi for what was described as a courtesy call after yesterday?s AICC session.
But no business was discussed and the group left after a photo opportunity. But the mood in the rival Congress faction was anything but cordial, as in a mammoth show of force, the pro-Chief Minister faction has embarked on a signature campaign. The memorandum, which was finalised today, is mainly in support of the Chief Minister and contains signatures of a few dropped ministers to downplay the move by the rival faction and establish it as a reaction of few disgruntled elements, sources said.
A senior Congress Minister told this newspaper that the memorandum counters in details the allegation, levelled by a section of the Congressmen. It counters the claims made by a section of the dropped ministers by pointing out that both Sarat Borkotoki and Dr Ardhendu Dey became ministers in 1991 for the first time. It extends full support to Sri Gogoi. They have sought an appointment with Smt Gandhi and the memorandum is to be submitted to CWC member and Party in-charge for Assam, Digvijay Singh and political secretary to AICC president, Ahmed Patel. The strength of the pro-Gogoi group was further augmented by the arrival of another batch of 16 MLAs. With this, around 52 Congress MLAs have landed in the Capital in one pretext or the other. Significantly, a few of the sulking MLAs including Sri Borkotoki and Dr Dey held separate meetings with the Chief Minister today.
Meanwhile, oblivious to all the developments, the Chief Minister is hosting a dinner for all visiting MLAs and ministers.
Meanwhile, the rival faction has also managed to make a dent. Sources in the AICC said that they are not happy about the developments in Assam, particularly with reports that a small group of minister was getting too powerful and has started calling the shots in all affairs leading to disenchantment among the State Congressmen. The rival faction?s case was strengthened by a note submitted by a senior MP elaborating the developments in the State. The disgruntled group has also cleverly trained their gun on the tainted ministers and has refrained from directly targeting the Chief Minister. Sources said that the AICC is likely to take up the matter with the Chief Minister. It was the contention of the rival group that if the present state of affair prevailed in Assam then the Congress may not do well in the next Assembly election that has alarmed the High Command.
Meanwhile, the representatives of various ethnic groups which are also in the Capital have met Minister of State for Defence, Bijoy Krishna Handique. The various ethnic groups like Ahom, Moran, Motak and Chutia are demanding Scheduled Tribe status.