Gogoi elected CLP leader, to be sworn-in as CM

Guwahati, May 13: Mr Tarun Gogoi was today unanimously re-elected the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and will be sworn-in as Asom Chief Minister on May 17.

Mr Gogoi's election was just a formality as the 53 newly-elected MLAs unequivocally supported him in the presence of AICC-in-Charge Digvijay Singh and Congress Observers Mohsina Kidwai and Chandan Bagchi.

Chief Minister-designate Tarun Gogoi then drove to Raj Bhawan to stake claim to form the next government. He was accompanied by Hagrama Basumatary, Chief of the Bodoland Peoples' Progressive Front (Hagrama), who with 11 MLAs had pledged support to the Congress.

Governor Lt Gen Ajay Sinha was submitted a list of 64 MLAs, 53 of Congress and 11 BPPF, besides nine other MLAs in support of Mr Gogoi's claim.

The Governor invited Mr Gogoi to form the next government.

The Congress-led-alliance now has 64 MLAs. Nine independents, including three Congress rebels, handed their letter of support to the Chief Minister-designate.

The AUDF, bete noire of the Congress till the results were out, also offerred unconditional support along with the NCP. The AUDF has 10 MLAs and NCP has a lone MLA.

The Congress does not seem to be too keen on having any kind of truck with AUDF.

''If they have offered us support, we can say thank you. But Congress and BPPF (H) have the adequate numbers,'' Mr Digvijay Singh said.

The swearing-in will take place on Wednesday after Mr Gogoi returns from New Delhi. He is leaving today to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi to finalise the list of ministers to be included in the Cabinet.

Clamouring is on as the BPPF(H) has demanded 5 to 6 ministerial posts. The Congress is willing to give two ministerial posts along with the post of deputy speaker.

Negotiations are on and it will be resolved soon, Asom Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma said.

UNI