NEW DELHI, May 23 � Nervousness among aspirants for ministerial berths continued even as Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi asserted that the list of council of ministers is not yet ready.
As the guessing game continues, a relaxed Gogoi dispelled rumours that a list has been prepared and pending clearance of the High Command. AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh has gone out of town as also Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, who was on a day-long tour of Jammu.
Gogoi told newsmen that he is still waiting for an appointment with the Congress president. But he added that the list should be ready within a week.
Replying to questions, he said though the AICC has left it to him to select his team, he would still like to finalise the council of ministers in consultations with AICC. �Even after I submit my list, AICC may decide to change it,� he argued.
Yesterday, Digvijay Singh had said that this time AICC has no suggestions to offer to Gogoi on constitution of his new team.
Meanwhile, sources said that the new-look Gogoi ministry may not have many debutants, as only five-six new faces are expected to be inducted. As reported only third-fourth time MLAs are being considered for ministerial positions, leaving out the first and second term legislators.
While most of the old faces of Gogoi Government � II like Himanta Biswa Sarma, Rockybul Hussain, Pradyut Bordoloi, Ajanta Neog and Gautam Roy among others are likely to be retained, the new faces may include G C Langthasa, Anjan Dutta, Sumitra Patir, Nilamani Sen Deka, Sukur Ali, Nazrul Islam, Ajit Singh, Tanka Bahadur Rai, Dr Ardhendu Dey, Bhupen Bora among others. Bora is being backed by PCC president, Bhubaneswar Kalita.
Those who might face the axe include Dr Bhumidhar Barman, Akon Bora, Gautam Bora, Khor Singh Ingti, among others. Fate of Pranab Gogoi, reportedly hangs in balance as despite being backed by Union Minister, Bijoy Krishna Handique, he fails the age criterion, as does Dr Barman.
Anjan Dutta is being considered as a representative of Koch Rajbongshi community in place of Akon Bora, while G C Langthasa is replacement for Khor Singh Ingti.
The Chief Minister is also considering at the option of appointing Dr Barman, Abdul Muhib Mazumdar or Pranati Phukan as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, sources close to Gogoi said.
