File photo of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi
Apparently backed by the Congress high command, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday night cracked down on dissidents pressing for his ouster sacking two ministers and accepting the resignation of top rebel leader Himant Biswa Sarma.
Irrigation and Soil Conservation Minister Ardhendu Dey and Cooperation and Border Areas Minister Siddique Ahmed were removed from the ministry and the resignation of Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's resignation was accepted and forward to the Governor, Chief Minister's Office sources said.
They said the two ministers were dropped for "going against" the government and the chief minister and also for "anti-party" activities.
Mr Gogoi officially conveyed to Governor J B Patnaik about the dismissal of the two ministers, the sources added.
Mr Gogoi conveyed to Congress President Sonia Gandhi about Mr Sarma's resignation and forwarded his letter to Mr Patnaik, according to the sources.
The action by Mr Gogoi against the dissidents came a day after the Congress central leadership described the rebellion in Assam, as also by Narayan Rane in Maharashtra, as driven by some leaders' "personal ambition".
Himanta Biswa Sarma had met Mr Patnaik on Monday and submitted his resignation. He claimed he met the Governor along with 38 MLAs and expressed no-confidence in the Chief Minister.
Mr Sarma and other dissidents in Congress in Assam began gunning for Mr Gogoi soon after the party's poor show in Lok Sabha elections.
Mr Sarma refused to contest the next assembly polls in the state, due in less than two years, under Mr Gogoi's leadership and alleged the Congress's strength in the assembly would be reduced to a single digit if Mr Gogoi remains the leader.
Hitting back, Mr Gogoi on Tuesday said "the people of Assam are politically mature enough to know that Himanta's resignation was a drama".
Mr Gogoi said he has seen the worst days for the party in Assam and did not need the certificate from anyone after having been in politics for fifty years.
Prior to the sacking of the two ministers and acceptance of Mr Sarma's resignation, the Tarun Gogoi ministry comprised 17 ministers, including four ministers with independent charge.