Gogoi meets Sonia, 'confident' of Congress majority

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, May 14: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today briefed Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the assembly elections in the State and told her that the Congress will get a majority.

Sources said Gogoi also told Gandhi about AIUDF's "relationship" with the BJP, citing a number of candidates AIUDF fielded in constituencies where its chances of victory were slim.

"This election has again proved the relationship between the AIUDF and the BJP. The AIUDF has fielded candidates in seats like Jorhat, Khumtai, Amguri etc. What does it indicate?" Gogoi told reporters after his meeting with Gandhi today.

"Even in the last Lok Sabha elections, it (AIUDF) had fielded candidates in seats like gaon, Mangaldai, Tezpur. They know they can't win in these seats. Their only intention is to defeat the Congress," he said.

Gogoi, however, admitted that AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal had held meetings with him as well. "But he wanted us to field weak candidates in some seats. Why would we do so? I instead suggested that both parties should field strong candidates… Whosoever wins, wins," the CM said.

Gogoi also took a dig at Himanta Biswa Sarma, saying the BJP was giving "unnecessary importance" to him. "Even some BJP MPs are saying their party would lose some seats because of him (Himanta)," he said.

When asked if he would continue as the Chief Minister if the Congress retains power, Gogoi said, "That will be decided later. What we want first is that the Congress should form the government."

He also scotched rumours that he might soon retire from politics, saying "there is no such thing as retirement from politics."