Promode Gogoi resigns from Assam Cabinet

GUWAHATI, April 4: The CPI National Executive member and State Flood Control Minister, Promode Gogoi, today resigned from the State Cabinet following the party's decision to come out of the four-party ruling combination protesting AGP's overtures to have poll pact with "communal" BJP. Addressing a press conference, Gogoi informed that he had tendered his resignation to the Chief Minister this morning as per the directive of the Secretariat of Assam State Council of the CPI which took the decision to snap AGP link after reviewing the fast developing election scenario in the State. The CPI considers BJP as a communal, reactionary and pro-imperialist party and therefore decided to pull out of the four party alliance protesting its ally AGP's efforts for alliance with the saffron party. When asked why the CPI took such a long time to pull out of the four-party alliance after knowing the intention of the AGP, Gogoi said, "we waited for the political development to mature. We did not take a hasty decision as we did not want to take the blame of having disrupted the alliance." Talking about the CPI's plan vis-?-vis the ensuing election, Gogoi informed that the party's State Council was of firm opinion that Left, democratic and secular parties should come together to prevent the BJP and its allies from capturing power at Dispur following the next polls. He said as far as the CPI was concerned it was prepared to have some sort of adjustment with Congress which he termed as a secular party. When drawn to the efforts for forming the People's Front (Lok Morcha) comprising the CPI, CPM, RSP, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (S), Gogoi said the CPI was trying to give a concrete shape to the effort. However, he said without some sort of understanding with Congress it would not be possible for the People's Front alone to prevent AGP-BJP combine from capturing power in the State. The veteran CPI leader said the social fabric of the State where 90 per cent of the population comprises backward communities, tribals and minorities, would be distrupted if the BJP and it allies captured power. It happened in BJP ruled States of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. He observed that BJP was not capable of capturing power on its own in all the five States where Assembly election will be held on May 10 next. So, the BJP was trying its best to share power in Assam so that it could have a foothold in the State.