Digvijay scotches speculation of Assam CM's removal

With dissidence plaguing the Congress in Assam, All India Congress Committee General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Saturday scotched speculations of replacing Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and warned that indiscipline in the party would be dealt with strictly.

"Gogoi will complete his five-year term and the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in the state will be fought under his and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhubaneswar Kalita's leadership," Singh told newsmen in Guwahati.

Stating that functioning of the Tarun Gogoi government was good and reshuffling of the ministry was the prerogative of the chief minister, he said. "Being consecutively elected thrice is ample proof of it. The vote share of Congress has gone up and all legitimate demands of the people addressed and programmes implemented," the AICC leader said.

Singh said that a resolution at a meeting of the APCC executive committee during the day noted with concern indiscipline by a few members of the party and legislature wing.

Stating that there were adequate forums in the party where grievances could be ventilated, he said partymen should not air them in print and electronic media. "The Congress is a responsible party consisting of responsible persons. Whatever issues were there we gave a patient hearing," he said adding that all issues would be resolved amicably.

He said a special cell would be set up in the chief minister's office to solve problems of party legislators. Stating the Congress' alliance with the Bodo Peoples Front would continue, he said there was no proposal to ally with the All India United Democratic Front.

The APCC executive committee meeting had expressed grave concern over the AIUDF politically exploiting minority sentiments in a few districts through emotional exploitation.