The ongoing cold war between Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and his health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma came to the fore with the latter claiming to have the support of more than 40 legislators who, he claimed, stood by him despite repeated attempts to “isolate him” in state politics.
The problem between the two top leaders first came to light on August 15, 2012 when Mr Sarma had resigned following differences with the chief minister.
The impasse lasted for a month with AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh having to step in.
On Saturday, Mr Sarma created a fresh controversy, saying: “Earlier my political activities were linked to the chief minister but now, I am doing my authorised and assigned duty only.”
In an interview to a local news channel, Mr Sarma claimed to have the support of more than 40 legislators and took a dig at the CM, saying, “In my party Congress president Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Rahul Gandhi are the final authority. Whatever assignment they give us we carry it forward...”
The bitterness in the relationship of Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi with his one-time favourite trouble-shooter Himanta Biswa Sarma was quite visible. There were numerous instances of the two avoiding sharing the dais with the other even at official functions. It took a serious turn on August 13 when the chief minister took a swipe at Mr Sarma for “meddling” into the ongoing crisis for separate states.
Mr Gogoi, who was certainly not happy over the opinion of his health minister on the demand for separate homelands by various ethnic groups, told reporters, “Who has given him the authority to speak on these sensitive matters? I have not. If the Centre has given him the authority, I am not aware of it.” The chief minister went on to say that ministers should not cross their limits. When Mr Gogoi was in New Delhi, Mr Sarma had claimed that there was a communication gap between the government and the autonomous council that triggered a statehood demand by various ethnic groups.
However, the warning of the chief minister failed to deter the minister from countering him a day later when Mr Sarma told reporters, “As a leader of the state, I can’t ignore issues relating to the unity and integrity of the state. The interest of the state is more important than remaining a minister.”
The remark of the minister was obviously embarrassing for the chief minister, who, however, refrained from a reaction.