Assam heavyweight minister Himanta Biswa Sarma resigns

Congress high command decides to retain Gogoi as CM

Dissident leader and Assam's health and education minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, today resigned from the Assam cabinet as the Congress 'high command' did not give in to his demand for replacement of chief minister Tarun Gogoi. He along with 28 other MLAs met the Governor and submitted his resignation putting the government in a fix. However, Sarma did not resign from the Congress party and said would continue as an MLA and abide by the whips of the party inside the Assembly. The Congress has 77 members in the 126-member Assam Assembly and at least 40 members are believed to be with Sarma who are demanding that there be a leadership change in Assam government.

"After Mallikarjun Kharge came to hear our views, we were told in four to five weeks a decision will come from the high command. But now we hear that Gogoi will be retained. Yesterday Gogoi called me and I had a discussion with him and I found he has nothing concrete in his mind to revive the party. He plans to change minters every four months. Absolute madness is prevailing upon him. I found continuing in Gogoi ministry is not advisable mentally, physically and politically, so I have decided to resign," said Sarma.

Sarma added: "From today we will fight for Gogoi's removal. You can expect some more action in the coming days. We (Sarma along with other dissident MLAs) will play the role of a constructive opposition. We will allow the government to function but will oppose Gogoi's anti-people policies."