NEW DELHI, July 4 ? In a tactical move aimed at avoiding further bitterness among his ministerial colleagues, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has decided to maintain status quo and avoid change of portfolios. The new ministry is likely to be in place by Tuesday. In the process, the downsizing is tipped to be a tame affair, as Sri Gogoi has made up his mind not to even promote or downgrade any ministers. The change in the portfolios of the ministers is likely to be effected later this year once the dust settles down, sources said. A brief swearing in ceremony may take place to induct the new faces into the Ministry. Sri Gogoi has proposed to induct at least two new faces into his 19-member ministry.
The Chief Minister, however, has decided against promoting anyone in an attempt avoid heart-burning among his ministerial colleagues. He has further proposed to entrust those dropped from the ministry with organisational work. He claimed to have worked out a formula to utilise their services. The Chief Minister told this newspaper today that since the Assembly Budget Session was near, he would not like to change the portfolios of his ministers allowing them to carry on with their old ministry.
The process of selection of ministerial candidates was completed tonight and the Congress president is likely to clear the list tomorrow. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi would announce the names of his new team members in Guwahati tomorrow. Simultaneously, the AICC would also be releasing the list. Meanwhile, according to a senior AICC leader, some of the prominent ministers who have been dropped included Sarat Borkotoki, Dr Ardhendu Dey, Devananda Konwar, Nur Jamal Sarkar among others. Fate of State Industries Minister Bhubaneswar Kalita lies with Sonia Gandhi who is likely to take the final decision tomorrow. Gogoi had met Sonia Gandhi to get the final clearance but was told to wait till tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar Kalita told this newspaper that he was willing to take any responsibility given to him by the party. Meanwhile, it was another day of long wait for anxious ministers and MLAs, as the Screening Committee had a lengthy discussion that lasted till late afternoon at Congress president Sonia Gandhi?s residence. Her political adviser, Ahmed Patel, general secretary Ambika Soni and treasurer Motilal Vohra attended the deliberations though none of the chief ministers and concerned AICC office-bearers were called to participate. Later in the evening the Chief Minister was summoned by the Screening Committee to 10 Janpath for clarification.
According to the Chief Minister, the process of discussions with State leadership was over and entire set of proposals were before the AICC High Command for clearance. Ruling out further discussion on downsizing with the AICC, he said that he was waiting for the list to be cleared. The AICC is expected to make an announcement here tomorrow. The Chief Minister though is leaving for Guwahati tomorrow after a week-long stay in the Capital.
The Assam list is not in a critical state as compared to some other Congress-ruled States, Sri Gogoi commented, mentioning that his list was more or less complete. What he left unsaid was that the differences persisted on two districts of Sivasagar and Kamrup. The stalemate is over candidature of PWD Minister Sarat Borkotoki and Transport Minister Anjan Dutta. While the Chief Minister is backing Sri Dutta on the basis of his performance, the PCC favours Sri Borkotoki. However, both the ministers? position became shaky after AICC insisted that Hemo Prova Saikia be retained. The AICC, apparently, did not want to disturb Smt Saikia, who happens to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh?s landlady.
But the decision led to an impasse as all the three ministers belonged to the same district. AICC sources disclosed that the dispute over Kamrup district was more or less clinched and State Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is tipped to retain his job, while two other ministers from the district, Education Minister Pankaj Bora and Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Robin Bardoloi are likely to be axed. A last-minute entry against all odds was State Forest Minister, Pradyut Bordoloi, who was dropped as per earlier proposals. Though the Chief Minister favoured his exit, APCC president Paban Singh Ghatowar put his foot down and he made an entry last evening.