Congress's Assam unit backs Gogoi, slams rebel minister

A day after Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma resigned from the Tarun Gogoi government and said he would work as a "constructive opposition", the Congress state unit said he had violated party discipline and the high command's direction was awaited.

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) said that no member of the Congress can identify as a separate group and that all the elected members of the party must follow the instruction of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP).

Addressing newsmen at the party headquarters Rajiv Bhavan, chief spokesperson Mehdi Alam Bora said they have intimated the latest developments in the state unit and government to the party's central leadership and waiting for their direction in this regard.

The APCC reaction came a day after Sarma, the state health and education minister, tendered his resignation, saying it was not possible to work under Gogoi "mentally, physically and politically".

Once a favourite of the three-time chief minister, Sarma also said that he is not going to withdraw his resignation and that he is not going to come back to the ministry as long as Gogoi continues at the helm.

Sarma, who had been leading the dissidence since last two years, had also said that the party is going to win not more than 10 to 15 seats in the next state assembly polls in 2016 if Gogoi continues as the chief minister.

Noting Sarma had violated discipline by his actions, Bora said: "Whatever has happened is unfortunate and we condemn this. However, there is no system in the party that allows any disgruntled member of the party to play the role of a constructive opposition. All elected members of the party must follow the direction of the CLP."

"Whatever the allegations Sarma levelled against the chief minister... it is against the principles and constitution of the party. The health minister had broken all the traditions of the party by meeting the governor with his supporters and tendering his resignation," he said.

Bora noted the Congress high command has decided not to replace Gogoi despite the activity of a section of dissident leaders to dislodge him. "Under this circumstances, the health minister's decision to defy the high command is against the party discipline," he said while appealing all the members of the party to work unitedly.