The ruling Congress Legislature Party will issue a three-line whip to its members to prevent any dissident legislator from opposing government bills and the budget in the Assembly.
It will also ensure that every ruling party legislator is present in the House for smooth passage of bills and the budget and for defeating any no-confidence or censure motion tabled by opposition parties. The budget session begins on August 4. Congress sources said the whip would be issued at CLP meeting to be held ahead of the first day session, in which the strategy to counter opposition to the budget and government bills would be finalised.. Any legislator violating the whip would be liable to face strict disciplinary action such as expulsion and disqualification, the sources added. Dissident Congress leader and former Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, after tendering his resignation to the Governor J.B. Patnaik, announced that dissident Congress legislators would be playing the role of “constructive opposition” and oppose “anti-people” policies of the State government, but would obey the party whip whenever it is issued.
Dr Sarma also announced that while they would continue to fight for a replacement of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, they would not topple the Congress government or oppose the budget.
While Gogoi loyalists claim that the strength of dissidents had declined, with more legislators pledging support to Mr Gogoi, Congress sources said the dissidents had been holding discussion in groups to evolve an effective strategy to corner Mr. Gogoi and his Ministers during the budget session.
The Congress has 77 members in the 126-member House with three seats currently vacant.
