Personal ambition seen as reason behind Sarma quitting Gogoi govt.

The political crisis in the state of Assam has given rise to rumours of personal ambition being responsible for state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma quitting from the Tarun Gogoi led government.

Media reports quoted AICC spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi as saying, "Not once, but on several occasions, he has mentioned that he wants to become the Chief Minister. The party will not weaken because of this."

Assam Tribune quoted a source from the Congress, who said, "Conceding that Himanta Biswa Sarma is a mass leader, the sources said that he had issued a statement about 15 days back, reposing confidence in the AICC. But he cannot put a deadline and Tarun Gogoi is no pushover who could be asked to quit just like that."

Yesterday, in a dramatic move, Sarma who was holding as Assam Health and Education Minister, resigned from the cabinet.

Sarma, who is leading the dissident camp against Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, submitted his resignation to state governor J. B. Patnaik.

Later, addressing media, alleged that Tarun Gogoi has no concrete policy to strengthen the party in Assam.

He also said that above 50 Congress MLAs demanded change in leadership when senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge had visited Guwahati .

Sarma also said that though Tarun Gogoi publicly announced, he had not submitted his resignation paper to the party high command after the party's debacle in the Lok Sabha elections.