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Ambition fulfilled, Gogoi gets reward

Failures of Congress Party in the state of Assam during recently concluded Lok Sabha polls has shattered the dreams of state chief minister, Tarun Gogoi, who had promised before the Congress high command to win more than half of the total seats for his party. The state has 14 parliamentary seats, out of which Congress could get 3 (three) seats only. The ‘courageous’ chief minister did not lose heart even at this defeat. The defeat led the Congress party in turmoil and some legislators of the party revolted against the leader of the House and demanded change in the leadership. The chief minister refused to bow down on the demands of those who desired the appointment of a new leader to lead the state administration as the chief minister holding two important portfolios of Home and Finance, passes most of his time outside the state and foreign countries.

Just before the Lok Sabha polls, the chief minister, Tarun Gogoi had cherished a dream to get his son, Gaurav Gogoi to be elected in the polls. Gaurav was given a ticket from Kaliabor parliamentary constituency and the state forest minister, Rakibul Hussain was entrusted the job to canvass and see that the result comes positive. The trusted colleague did the job successfully. However, the Congress succeeded in getting three seats in total. Commenting on the situation against the chief minister, Gogoi a local vernacular newspaper published a cartoon depicting the discussion between Gaurav Gogoi with his father telling him that since he himself would have to stay at New Delhi being a member of Lok Sabha and situation in Assam do not seem favorable for the Gogoi family they should consider to settle in the Indian capital.

Interestingly, another media report revealed that on 13th May 2014, the Cabinet Committee of Accommodation (CCA) has approved 5, Janapath, New Delhi, house in favor of Tarun Gogoi as ‘reward for forming the Congress-led  government in Assam thrice’ in a series. Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel, handed over the keys of the house to Gogoi recently as soon as he entered 10, Janapath to submit his resignation before the party high command. Just after the end of voting on May 12 last, the approval was given by CCA. However, it is said that there was nothing wrong and no violation of electoral conduct. CCA confirmed that before the taking oath of a new government the caretaker government could take any decision.

The political circles are astonished on such decision of the Congress high command. It is said that Gogoi has promised before Sonia and Rahul that he would gift 10 seats from the state, in anticipation of the same this reward was considered for him. Secondly, Gogoi has said to Man Mohan Singh, that his son, Gaurav was contesting from Kaliabor which was earlier held by his brother. Since he would be entering parliament for the first time he won’t be in position to get big house. For regular official visits the CM needs a house to stay in Delhi. May be this was not the reason behind such approval. But the former chief ministers of Maharashtra, Himachal and Uttarakhand after retiring from the Central cabinet returned to their states, but did not vacate the house at Delhi. Congress high command rejected Gogol’s resignation and he was rewarded the house. He was also consoled that the defeat of his party was not only in Assam, but throughout the country.

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Daya Nath Singh's picture

Journalist; Guwahati Press Club office Secretary

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