Skip to content Skip to navigation

Sarma-Gogoi patch up raises poll hopes

By AT News |

A sudden patch-up between Tarun Gogoi and Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma seems to have revived the hope of Congress hardly a year ahead of the assembly polls.

Sources available with Assam Times say that the chief minister is believed to have been in constant touch with his former cabinet colleague for the last couple of days to refurbish the image of the ruling party. Even Gogoi is keen to re-induct Dr Sarma in his council of ministers shortly.  

The duo have mended the differences acting on a slew of suggestions they received from the editor in chief of a satellite news channel. The top journalist is further learnt to have tapped KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi to sharpen the attack on BJP.

The former powerful minister has already started taking on Sarbananda Sonowal over the SAF Games. Dr Sarma dared Union sports minister to uplift the sports infrastructure.  

According to senior party leaders, “Dr Sarma has come out to rescue the chief minister who has drawn no less criticism for his doubtful sincerity on the sports event.” 

Apart from his scathing attack on BJP, the KMSS leader has also agreed to field some of his candidates to mar BJP’s poll prospects. It would take time for Akhil Gogoi to implement the strategy as the ruling party has yet to ascertain the Achilles hills. 

“Once the roadmap is finalised KMSS would indirectly help us elect our candidates. His role will help us divide the anti Congress sentiments. KMSS will pull support from traditional AGP voters along with a section of people who have lost faith on BJP after the Centre’s faux pas in the Indo-Bangla land deal and big dams,” said a senior Congress leader who refused to be named.  

The ruling party further hopes to strike advantage of the internal bickering in BJP apart from the non performance of the Asom Gana Parishad. 

Only after these equations, the chief minister agreed to contest the next assembly polls early next year despite the age hurdle. 

“If the party manages to cross the halfway mark it would be able to retain power with support from either BPF or AIUDF. Then Dr Sarma would be allowed to play a high voltage role in the Congress legislative party where dissidence is already over,” said another senior Congress leader.    

Thus the ruling party is preparing a blueprint to keep BJP at bay in the next assembly polls since AGP is no longer a party to be reckoned with.  

 

 

Author info

AT News's picture

Assam Times Staff. editor@assamtimes.org

Add new comment

Random Stories

Stress on smart policing

7 May 2015 - 8:48am | AT News
Police heads from 10 states are devising an effective mechanism to efficiently deal with the rising incidents of crimes in the cities at an ongoing convention in Guwahati. Speakers at the 3 days...

Three kidnappers arrested in Guwahati

17 Feb 2012 - 3:17am | editor
In a major achievement, Guwahati police have arrested three youths a day after they allegedly kidnapped a trucker in the city. According to information, the trio have been arrested during an...

Antony takes stock of of Indo-China border situation

6 Apr 2008 - 4:20pm | editor
Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony and army chief General Deepak Kapoor are visiting Tawang on Sunday to take stock of the Indo-China border situation. Both they arrived in Tezpur on Saturday on a...

Six nabbed with ganja and liquor

10 Feb 2016 - 9:28am | Shajid Khan
The SSB jawans of 61 battalion nabbed six persons with 340 kg ganja (cannabis) and 251 bottles of liquor from the Arunachal- Assam border jungle area on Sunday. They have also seized a Wagon R car (...

Other Contents by Author

Opposition Leaders File Police Complaint Against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Amid Rising Controversy Over Anti-Muslim Remarks

A day after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared that he "will take sides" and "will not let Miya Muslims take over all of Assam," opposition leaders filed a police complaint on August 27 accusing him of promoting enmity between different religious and ethnic groups. The complaint was lodged at the Dispur police station by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhupen Borah and Assam Jatiya Parishad's Lurinjyoti Gogoi, representing the United Opposition Forum, a coalition of groups opposed to the BJP and its allies. The complaint, supported by Independent Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Bhuyan, Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia, and Congress...

Assam : Where indigenous confronts suspected nationals

During our school days, when the historic Assam agitation broke out, we used to go to Tihu town in western Assam for joining  various protest demonstrations against the outsiders (read non-Assamese Indians) and the movement was initially known as ‘Bohiragata Kheda Andolan’ (literary meaning agitation to deport outsiders) to create a prosperous Assam for the indigenous population. Later it was redefined as the agitation against illegal migrants (read Bangladeshi/East Pakistani nationals) by the intellectuals and media barons in Guwahati, the virtual capital of northeast India. Simultaneously an armed movement also surfaced with an initial trigger from the economic domination of Hindi...

Bhartiya Gorkha Parisangh Welcomes MHA’s Resolution on NRC Biometrics-Aadhaar Issue

The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP), a prominent national social organization representing Gorkhas across India, has expressed its gratitude towards the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for issuing a notification that resolves the longstanding NRC Biometrics-Aadhaar linkage issue. This development is expected to bring relief to nearly 9.35 lakh individuals in Assam, including over one lakh Gorkhas who have been affected by the issue. Nanda Kirati Dewan, the General Secretary of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, Assam State Committee, expressed appreciation for the MHA’s intervention. He noted that the BGP has been actively engaging with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)...

NSCN Issues Statement on Ethnic Conflict and Protection of Christians

Guwahati: The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) has expressed serious concerns over the ongoing Meitei-Kuki-Zo ethnic conflict, which began on May 3, 2023. Despite maintaining a stance of neutrality, the NSCN has been closely monitoring developments and is alarmed by the increasing violence, particularly against Christians. In a press statement released today, the NSCN highlighted a disturbing trend of harassment and physical assaults against Christians by the militant group Arambai Tengol. The NSCN identified the group's strong convictions and extreme principles as the driving forces behind its radical socio-political reforms. "The violent extremism followed by Arambai...

NEADS Launches Humanitarian Assistance Programme in Response in Dibrugarh

Dibrugarh, Assam: In response to the devastating impacts of river erosion at Mohanaghat, Dibrugarh, the North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS) has launched a comprehensive humanitarian assistance programme. The initiative aims to provide life-saving support to the most vulnerable and marginalized communities affected by this catastrophic event. NEADS is taking proactive steps to address the urgent needs of those displaced by the river erosion, ensuring that aid is specifically tailored to meet the unique requirements of different genders within the affected populations. The interventions are multi-layered, encompassing critical areas such as Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (...

Assam Don Bosco University Empowers Youth with Free Solar Energy Workshop

The Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) successfully concluded a three-day workshop, "Swabalamban: Empowering Employment through Solar Energy," held from July 3rd to 5th, 2024, at its Azara campus. Conducted entirely in Assamese, the initiative aimed to enhance the employability of young people by equipping them with practical skills in solar energy technology and electrical house wiring. This free workshop was organized by the university's School of Technology under their commitment to social empowerment and sponsored by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) under its VAANI scheme, which promotes the use of Indian languages in education. Over the three days, 54...

Water Training Programme Commences at Dibrugarh University

Dibrugarh: The Seven-day Water Training Programme began at Dibrugarh University's Indira Miri Conference Hall on June 21, 2024. Organized by the Centre for Social Work Studies (CSWS), North-East India Water Talks (NEIWT), and NEADS, with support from the Heinrich Böll Stiftung - Delhi Regional Office, the event will run until June 27, 2024. The programme commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Monuj Dutta, followed by a background speech by K. K. Chatradhara of NEIWT. The inaugural session featured the University Anthem performed by CSWS students. Dibrugarh University's Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jiten Hazarika, inaugurated the training program. He emphasized the need for collaboration to...

Senior Forest Official Brahmananda Patiri Passes Away

Guwahati, June 2: Senior forest official Brahmananda Patiri, serving as the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Chirang division in Assam's Chirang district, passed away on Sunday, June 2, 2024. Patiri, who had been admitted to Nemcare Hospital in Guwahati on Saturday after experiencing health issues during a meeting, breathed his last this morning. Patiri was a well-educated and widely read individual, known for his involvement in cultural and literary activities. His untimely demise has left a significant void in both the forestry sector and the cultural community. People from various communities have extended their deep condolences and are mourning the loss of Patiri, who was...

Ham Radio workshop on June 2 at Panjim

Panaji: Come June 2, Sunday. A promising workshop on science and technology will fetch no less benefit for the tech-savvy school and college students in Panjim. Courtesy the Ham Radio. Just they need to participate actively June 2nd@Jambul Café, Panjim. The much-awaited 2-hour workshop will take you away to a fascinating world of amateur radio, popularly known as Ham Radio. The topic of the workshop will range from radio waves operation to the see live streaming demonstrations apart from the handling of the real radio equipment. According to the organizers here, it will open the flood gates for the technology-savvy people to get to know the first hand knowledge of the basics of Ham...

Assam Don Bosco University School of Technology Hosts Career Counselling Seminar

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Assam Don Bosco University School of Technology organized a Career Counselling Seminar today. Focus on future-proofing skills: The seminar, addressed by Mr. Partha Pratim Baruah, Founder and Director of Vidhi Analytica, an agri-tech startup based in Guwahati, emphasized the importance of an entrepreneurial mindset. Mr. Baruah encouraged students to develop skills for the future,  comparing them to Lord Ganesha – with a keen sense of future trends (long nose) and a deep understanding of their surroundings (big ears). Bridging the gap between academics and industry:  Mr. Baruah stressed the need to connect classroom learning with...