NEW DELHI, May 21 � Upset with the fresh banner of revolt raised by a section of his partymen, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that he has made up his mind to quit and is all set to submit his papers owning moral responsibility for the debacle in the Lok Sabha elections.
The Chief Minister, who is keeping a close tab on the developments in Assam, in an exclusive interaction with this newspaper, said he has sought an appointment with Congress president Sonia Gandhi to submit his papers.
Amidst heightened political developments, former union minister Bijoy Krishna Handique called on the Congress president.
AICC sources said that neither has the Chief Minister met the Congress president, nor has the memorandum from the disgruntled MLAs reached them. �We will try to resolve the crisis by talking to all sides,� sources said, adding that the group of MLAs may be summoned to Delhi for discussion.
A visibly disturbed Gogoi said that the latest political developments took place after he left Guwahati for Delhi.
�What I find most surprising is that they are asking for my resignation, when I have already decided to put in my papers,� said Gogoi.
Stating that he has made up his mind to quit, Gogoi observed that the BJP wave was the prime cause of the poor performance of his party.
About the latest turmoil in the Congress, Gogoi said that Dr Bhumidhar Barman and Chandan Sarkar came to meet him to request him to convene a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), just as he was about to leave for the airport. �� told them that CLP meetings are not convened on basis of verbal request but there is a set process for it,� he argued.
�They just came with a verbal request without any papers. How can I agree,� he said.
�In any case, I had made it clear that I am quitting owning moral responsibility. What purpose such a meeting would serve now,� he said.
When asked about the letter written by a group of over 45 MLAs including a few senior ones, he said that he has seen media reports only. �Let the Congress president take a final call. I have no issues because I am mentally prepared to quit,� he said.
�I am quitting because I have made a commitment and there is no going back on my decision,� he said.
Gogoi also made light of the revolt by a section of the leaders, pointing out majority of them including those who are leading the campaign failed to perform in the last elections. �Most of them had failed to get us leads in their respective constituency,� he asserted.
Meanwhile, Gogoi loyalists rushed to Delhi and held an urgent meeting with him. Those who were present included Pradyut Bordoloi, Rokibul Hussain and Akon Bora among others.
