Ministry reshuffle after January 19

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, January 16: The much awaited Gogoi ministry reshuffle is most likely to take place after January 19.

The ministry reshuffle issue was elaborately discussed at a closed door meeting held recently at Koidhora, official residence of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, in which, Gogoi himself, Assam Pradesh Congress in–charge CP Joshi and party president Anjan Dutta took part.

Congress sources said that the ministry reshuffle decision was filly taken at that meeting and based on the decision of the meeting Joshi took up the issue with the party high command for its approval.

Party sources further informed that a meeting of the council of ministers had been called for by Gogoi before the ministry reshuffle, in which, all the present ministers might be asked to put in their papers. It may also be mentioned here that State Governor PB Acharya, who is now out of the State, is most likely to return to the city on January 18 evening.

Another sources said that ministers like Prithibi Majhi, Pradyut Bordoloi, Prati Phukan, Akon Bora, Nilomoni Sen Deka, Gautam Roy, Tanka Bahadur Rai and Rajib Lochon Pegu were most likely to be dropped from the Gogoi ministry due to their poor performance in the last Lok Sabha elections. Presently, the four ministerial positions are also lying vacant in the Gogoi ministry.

On the other hand, Sarat Borkotoky, Bhumidhar Barman, Chandan Sarkar, Sukkur Ali, Etawa Munda, Girindra Mallick, Robin Bordoloi, Rekibuddin Ahmed, Bidya Singh Engleng, Bismita Gogoi, Sumitra Patir and Durlav Chamua are likely to get berth in the Gogoi ministry.

Given the upcoming civic polls in the State, the Chief Minister has decided to complete the ministry reshuffle process early.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters on Wednesday evening, Gogoi said, “The process of ministry reshuffle will be completed before January 26.”