Kharge urges party members to work unitedly

Guwahati, Jun 23: In a bid to quell dissidence in the ruling

in

, AICC observer

on Monday urged party members to work unitedly to fight the BJP-led NDA even as he is scheduled to individually meet the Congress MLA and MPs on the dissidence issue tonight.

Kharge addressed a meeting at the APCC headquarters, Rajib Bhaban here, attended by state party chief Bhubaneswar Kalita, party office-bearers, district committee presidents, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, both his supporting and dissident ministers, MLAs and other party leaders.

Coming out of the closed door meeting, the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, replying to waiting reporters' queries if he had discussions on the dissidence issue, Kharge said, "No. Only about strengthening the party".

The Chief Minister, whose leadership is being challenged by the dissidents, told the media, "the performance of the Congress in the last Lok Sabha polls, railway fare and freight hike by the Modi Government and price rise were discussed.

He urged all to fight the NDA unitedly". "There is no need to be disheartened by the Congress poll performance. Earlier after poor performance we have again done well", Gogoi said.

Health and Education Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma leading the two-year long dissidence with 45 MLAs said, "Kharge will individually meet the MLAs and MPs tonight and tomorrow morning."

"Kharge asked us to unitedly carry on with our fight against the NDA and Narendra Modi government", Sarma added.

PTI