Gogoi more needed in Assam than in New Delhi: Assam Congress

Guwahati, April 30 (IANS) The Congress party's Assam state unit Monday sought to end the over-week long speculation about Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's probable nomination as vice president, saying his services were required more in the state than in New Delhi.

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhubneswar Kalita made it clear that the state unit has full confidence in Gogoi as chief minister and that he is more needed in that post than as the vice president.

"The state of Assam prospered on all fronts under the leadership of Gogoi, particularly regarding the peace process with the militants," said Kalita, adding Gogoi is more required as the Assam chief minister for not only bringing peace to the state but also to ensuring its allround development.

"I on behalf of the APCC (Assam Pradesh Congress Committee) took up the matter with the party leadership and they have informed us that no such move has been initiated. Gogoi will stay as the chief minister of Assam," he said, adding all the ministers and other party legislators have full confidence in him.

Denying any dissidence in the party, Kalita also warned the party legislators to strictly abide by party ethics and maintain discipline.

"No one is above the party and everyone must follow the ethics of the party. Action will be taken against those who violate the party ethics," he said while warning some party legislators who were seen making public comments over the issue in media in the past few days.

Earlier, two of the Gogoi's cabinet colleagues, Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain and Power Minister Pradyut Bordoloi, issued statements from New Delhi that they do not want Gogoi to go for the vice president's post as his services and leadership are required in the state.

The speculation over Gogoi's name for the vice president's post started immediately after he led the Congress to its third electoral victory in Assam in April last year.

The controversy, which died down later last year, resurfaced after a state minister reportedly met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited the state on April 20 and urged her to consider Gogoi's name for the vice president's post.

The election to the vice president's post is scheduled before the term of incumbent M. Hamid Ansari ends on Aug 10.