Embattled Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi — with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s backing — accepted Education and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s resignation, 24 hours after it was submitted. Mr. Gogoi dropped two other rebel Ministers, Irrigation and Soil Conservation Minister Ardhendu Kumar Dey and Minister of State for Border Areas Development and Cooperation Siddeque Ahmed, in a bid to stem the dissidence in the State unit.
The Chief Minister’s office confirmed the development on Tuesday night. In Delhi, Mr. Gandhi, who has ensured the continuance of Mr. Gogoi as Chief Minister despite the rebellion against him, told journalists that the political crisis was an “internal issue” of the Congress.
