Asom Congress denies dissension

Guwahati, May 1 (UNI) The Asom Congress today denied that hectic lobbying was on for the formation of next government.

Talking to newspersons here today, Congress MP from Guwahati Kirip Chaliha said the recent media report that an anti-Tarun Gogoi camp, led by Union Minister Santosh Mohan Dev, was working overtime to find an alternative within the party.

''We have discussed the post poll strategy with Mr Dev in New Delhi. We were not lobbying against Mr Gogoi,'' he said.

Mr Chaliha said, ''Mr Gogoi had publicly announced his disinterest for a second term. Mr Kalita met Mr Dev and it was a normal political discussion. As the head of the party state unit whatever he had done was justified,'' he said.

Mr Gogoi was expected to face tough challenge from a strong group within the party, who were either dropped or not given importance in the past. Mr Bhubaneshwar Kalita was also dropped.

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