GUWAHATI, May 23 � The dissident group�s �mission change in leadership� once again ended in an anti-climax with the rebels announcing �cease-fire� till the arrival of All India Congress Committee (AICC) observer team led by Motilal Vora to the State to assess the situation.
The central team is expected to arrive in four to five days� time and meet all the MLAs and senior partymen.
Mood swings were evident in both the camps as soon as the central leadership decided to intervene, asking both the sides to maintain restraint.
While Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, reciprocating the demand of the dissident group, made a call to senior Congressman and former Minister Sarat Barkataky around 2:30 pm, the dissident group, too, dropped their guns and immediately deciding to temporarily call off their plan to visit Governor JB Patnaik and instead �work for the party�s welfare�.
The telephone call from Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi effected mood swing in the dissident camp with Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma saying that they had never asked for change in leadership. All we wanted was serious and comprehensive introspection into the latest poll debacle and fixing of responsibilities, he said.
The dissident camp had been pressing for Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi�s ouster and even threatened to stage a collapse of the government by meeting the Governor if their demands were not met.
Senior Congressman and Minister Gautam Roy went on to say on record that they have decided to make Himanta Biswa Sarma the next Chief Minister.
Even hours before the Chief Minister�s call to Barkataky, Sarma had said that he would, if required, resign from the ministry and join the MLAs to express no-confidence against the leadership.
He even alleged that Gogoi had staged a drama in the name of submitting his resignation.
However, the intensity dipped in the later part of the day and when asked whether he would work under Gogoi if things go contrary to their expectations after the observer�s visit, Sarma said, �We are disciplined soldiers and it is not about working under anyone or not. It is about resolving the issues and work for the betterment of the party.�
He said that they had apprised the party leadership about the apprehensions about a couple of years back but no heed was paid, as a result of which such a poll debacle could take place in Assam.
�The �whims and fancies� of a select people have cost the party dearly,� he added.
The Chief Minister had told Sarat Barkataky that he will abide by whatever decision is taken after the observer�s visit.
Meanwhile, mudslinging among various MLAs and Ministers continued.
