I forget the class my son is studying in: Gogoi

Guwahati, Aug 7 (UNI) Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's biggest regret in life is that he hardly has time for his family and he even forgets his marriage anniversary, which makes his wife upset.

From his love life to student politics, from personal regrets to last wishes, Mr Gogoi was at his best at a ''Meet the Press Programme'' at the Guwahati Press Club.

The Chief Minister, who won Asom for Congress for a second term, stunned the scribes with his candid answers about his personal life yesterday.

He admitted that his biggest regret was that he could not give time to the family members they deserved. ''I particularly feel bad about my son Gaurav. My daughter, who is elder to Gaurav, got some attention, but he missed it. I sometimes even forget in which class he is.'' The Chief Minister admitted that he used to have arguments with his wife over minor issues like every other family, ''But in most cases, I let her win because I know I cannot win.'' ''But she was upset when I forgot our marriage anniversary. She told me I am over-taxing myself,'' he said. The Chief Minister's wife became a homemaker after quitting a teaching job of more than a decade while they were in New Delhi.

''When I was the Union Minister, I was respected all over the country but that was superficial. The love and respect earned from the Assamese people is much more,'' he said.

The Chief Minister said that he had no love interest during his student life as he consciously avoided being in the company of women.

He was only interested in building a political career.

About his marriage, he said that he married without actually meeting his future wife. ''When we met officially for the engagement, I thought my bride is the girl, who was actually accompanying my wife,'' he said amid a roar of laughter.

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