A delegation of about 28 Congress MLAs, led by former minister and veteran Congress legislator Anjan Dutta, is going to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek their intervention to bring discipline in the party in Assam.
Disclosing that they have sought the appointment during this week with central party leaders, Mr Dutta, however, clarified, “We are neither dissident nor any pressure group. Our concern is growing indiscipline in the party.”
Pointing out that there are some leaders who have been pressing for reshuffle in the Gogoi council of minister, Mr Dutta told this newspaper, “Inducting a minister or dropping them is the prerogative of chief minister. As a disciplined worker of the party, we do not want to indulge in these issues. We are concerned over the growing rivalry within the rank and file of the party. It may have cascading impact over the performance of the party in near future so we need to take corrective steps.”
He also added that the delegation will also plead that the Congress high command should review the performance of the ministers periodically.
“We have got the confirmation about our appointment with the Prfsime Minister but we are yet to get a final approval from Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s office. We hope to get it in a day or two,” he added.
Regretting that irresponsible remarks of party leaders in public was creating confusion among the ground level party workers, Mr Dutta said, “We want to let the Congress president apprise about the feeling and views of the party workers at the grassroots level.”
Mr Dutta, who was also the president of youth Congress in Assam, reiterated that they have been avoiding to publicise their New Delhi visit as it was not related to ongoing claim and counter-claim between a sections of Congress leaders in the local media.