Guwahati, Jan 19 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Monday convened a meeting of the council of ministers, following which all the ministers resigned to pave the way for reconstitution of the cabinet which has been kept pending for many years.
This will be the first reshuffle in 14 years under Gogoi's leadership. Gogoi had led the Congress to victory in the 2001 assembly elections.
Although the Congress came to power again in 2006 and 2011, the party witnessed dissidence in the last four years, and a section of leaders demanded a change in leadership and cabinet reshuffle.
Sources said Gogoi was likely to reconstitute his ministry by Friday.
All the ministers Monday reached the chief minister's official residence for the meeting and later tendered their resignations.
Power and Industries Minister Pradyut Bordoloi, Cultural Affairs Minister Pranati Phukan and Social Welfare Minister Akon Bora did not attend the meeting but sent their resignations to Gogoi.
"We resigned enmass today to pave the way for reconstitution of the ministry. I am a loyal soldier of the Congress and I am ready to play any role that is given to me," said PHE minister Gautam Roy.
Congress sources said at least eight ministers were on their way out. They were Bordoloi, Roy, Phukan, Bora, Labour and Employment Minister Prithivi Majhi, Agriculture Minister Nilomoni Sen Deka, Planning and Development Minister Tanka Bahadur Rai and Water Resources Minister Rajib Lochan Pegu.
Veteran party leaders like Bhumidhar Barman and Sarat Barkotoky were likely to get a cabinet berth in the new ministry.
The names of Chandan Sarkar, Etowa Munda, Girindra Mallick, Sukur Ali, Bismita Gogoi, Sumitra Patir were also doing the rounds.
The sources said Food and Civil Supplies Minister Nazrul Islam and Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain were likely to be given new portfolios.
Meanwhile, though there were indications of a fresh rebellion within the Congress, newly elected state chief Anjan Dutta Monday made it clear that there was no dissidence.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has decided to hold the Asia Cup Super-4 and the final match in C
The Congress party paid tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary o
Pakistani generals insist on early elections to appoint new army chief
Many rumors are going on about who will be the next Army Chief. There is already a tense atmosphe
Tamil Nadu leaders condole death of Lee Kuan Yew
Chennai, March 23 (IANS) DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Monday mourned the death of Singapore'
Google has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court regarding the new IT rules of the Central Gov
The Supreme Court is soon going to constitute a technical committee to investigate the case of al
Air India flight AI171 (Boeing 787, VT-ANB) crashed in Ahmedabad yesterday. All 241 people on boa
Naturally, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest in a money laundering case related to th
Bank IPO: TMB fixed a price band of Rs 500-525 for IPO, investment will be done between these dates
Private sector bank Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB) IPO (Initial Public Offering) is coming on Sep
Bajwa visits ISI Headquarters amid tension with Imran Khan, meeting with Faiz Hamid
Amid the ongoing tussle between the Pakistan Army and the Imran Khan government over the appointm
