Himanta Biswa Sarma is no longer deciding factor now : Tarun Gogoi

He discussed a gamut of political and other issues concerning Assam with AICC president Sonia Gandhi at her residence in New Delhi. Gogoi apprised the Sonia Gandhi of the latest political development in the wake of Himanta Biswa Sarma deciding to join the BJP.

Gogoi told Sonia that Sarma’s decision to join the BJP would not in any way harm the party’s position as well as its growing popularity as indicated in the Tiwa Autonomous Council election.

“I do not know the reasons as to why Himanta decided to leave the party. There may be reasons that he is under the scanner,” Gogoi said.

Gogoi said that, the Congress party is above everything else and it is not individual centric.
 
“The Congress is a grand old party and desertion by a few would not in any way affect the party’s prospects. The growing popularity of the State Congress as reflected in the Tiwa Autonomous Council election coupled with the slew of development activities initiated by the party in power in the past 14 years would help the party to stand in good stead and turn BJP’s political game plan topsy-turvy,” Gogoi said.

Gogoi assured the AICC President that the party would formulate suitable political strategies to strengthen the organizational base and undertake different programmes to foil the BJP moves.

The AICC President asked the Chief Minister to gear up for the forthcoming Assembly election next year.

Gogoi also apprised the AICC President about the latest deluge and the prevailing law and order situation in the state.
 
The Assam CM said that the BJP’s so-called popularity has been dented with the massive agitation spearheaded by the economically and politically powerful Patel community demanding reservation in Government jobs and education.

“PM Modi’s much publicised Gujarat Model of Development has been thoroughly exposed with unemployment and low social development indicators coming to the fore,” Gogoi said.

Former Health and Education Minister of Tarun Gogoi led-government and present MLA of Jalukbari constituency Himanta Biswa Sarma will join the saffron party on Aug 28 in Guwahati in the presence of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and state BJP unit president Siddartha Bhattacharya.

On Aug  23, Himanta met BJP national president Amit Shah at his residence in New Delhi and desired to join the party.
 
“I had already sent my resignation letter to AICC,” Himanta said.

On other hand, a top official of state BJP unit said that, few Congress MLAs have desired to join the BJP.

 
 (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)