Discussions on to end crisis in Assam: PCC chief Kalita

Hectic parleys continued in the Congress party to resolve the leadership crisis in Assam where dissidents have been demanding resignation of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi after the party's poor show in the Lok Sabha polls.

"Discussions have been going on in different quarters on how to end the criss. We are talking to everyone," President of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee Bhubaneswar Kalita told PTI here.

A three-member AICC team -- Ghulam Nabi Azad, C P Joshi and Gogoi -- yesterday briefed Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi about the political situation in Assam where government functioning has virtually come to a standstill due to the leadership crisis.

Sources said more than 40 Congress MLAs have challenged Gogoi's leadership and demanded a change of guard. There are 78 Congress MLAs in Assam's 126-member Assembly.

Reports suggest that during yesterday's meeting, the Congress leadership has asked Gogoi to woo the dissidents within a specific time failing which he should convene a meeting of Congress Legislature Party to elect a new leader.

Kalita, however, said "no decision has been taken so far."

When contacted, Assam's Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is considered to be the leader of the dissidents, told PTI over phone that he was yet to get a confirmation about the decision of the AICC.

"I am still trying to get information on what transpired in the meeting with the high command. I am not aware about the development," he said.

After Congress got its lowest ever tally in Assam -- 3 out of 14 Lok Sabha seats -- in the recent Lok Sabha elections, 78-year-old Gogoi had said that he would resign within a week.

However, when Gogoi met Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi on May 22, his offer of resignation was rejected by her.

Gogoi has been Chief Minister of Assam since 2001.