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Ready to step down if all ministers quit: CM

By SPl Correspondent

NEW DELHI, June 5 � Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday added a new twist to the political situation in the State by stating that if all his 18 ministers quit then he is ready to resign.

Gogoi sought to play cool to the ongoing rebellion by a section of his partymen, clarifying that none of the disgruntled MLAs have met him to air their grievances.

About the demands for his removal purportedly made by the rebel MLAs, he said that if all his ministers submit their papers expressing their lack of confidence on his leadership then he is willing to quit.

The rebel MLAs have however, clarified that they are not pressing for Gogoi�s removal or seeking reshuffle of ministry.

�The MLAs are free to come to Delhi and meet AICC leadership, I have no objection,� he told this newspaper on the sidelines of the Chief Ministers� Conference on Internal Security.

The Chief Minister further said that he is not in favour of going for a reshuffle of his ministry immediately, as it might lead to further complications.

About the allegations that the young ministers are not given a free hand to run their ministries, he said that several young ministers had worked under him and never complained.

Gogoi along with PCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita and State Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Nilomani Sen Deka yesterday met the Prime Minister though they did not discuss the political developments.

Sources confided that the Prime Minister may not be keen on meeting the rebel MLAs, though his office has received a formal request for appointment.

Meanwhile, the disgruntled MLAs spent the entire Wednesday confabulating among themselves. A group of four MLAs led by Chandan Sarkar met secretary in-charge for Assam, Pervez Hashmi and sought his help to organise their appointment with top AICC leadership, including Congress president, Sonia Gandhi and vice president, Rahul Gandhi, said one of the members.

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