Congress on Friday ruled out a change of guard in Assam, downplaying the issue of dissident MLAs protesting against Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
“So someone makes a complaint and there has to be a change of guard? That does not happen. Some people have certain views. They have come here to voice those. Concerned people will discuss the issue with them,” party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary told reporters in New Delhi.
A group of dissident Congress legislators had visited the national capital a few days back and met leaders expressing resentment against Mr. Gogoi’s style of functioning. The MLAs from the anti-Gogoi camp are again in Delhi in this regard.
Mr. Gogoi’s June 4 visit to Delhi had fuelled speculation that he was demanding that certain ministers in the state, who opposed him, should be dropped. It was, however, denied by Mr. Gogoi, who had said that there was no proposal for reshuffle in his ministry and he had not taken any decision in this regard.
About dissidence in the party, Mr. Gogoi had said, “I have faced dissidence for the last 40 years of my career with many Congress leaders contesting elections against me. This is a part of life.”
The Congress spokesperson also dismissed Asom Gana Parishad serving a legal notice against Rahul Gandhi for his purported remarks on WikiLeaks, by saying that AGP was in power for a term allegedly with the backing of insurgents.
“In a democracy, one has a right to file a case. We will face it. We will reply to it strongly,” Ms. Chowdhary said dismissively.
