Work unitedly, don't break discipline, Rahul tells APCC leaders

Watch over government and police officials for 'working for BJP/ RSS'

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, July 8: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today asked the warring State Congress leaders to work unitedly to ensure victory of the party in 2016 assembly elections.

The instructions were given to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, APCC president Anjan Dutta and former minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who were called by Gandhi for a meeting at his residence in New Delhi today. The meeting, which began at 11 am, lasted for 45 minutes.

After the meeting, Gogoi and Dutta left in the same vehicle, while Himanta was seen going out of Gandhi’s residence in the same car with AICC Assam in-charge CP Joshi.

“The APCC leaders were asked to ensure that no one breaks party discipline,” sources said, adding that Gandhi told the leaders to strengthen the State unit to face the electoral battle. The APCC president was asked to be strict against dissident activities within the party. 

 The sources also said that Rahul Gandhi asked the State Congress leaders to keep an eye on the activities of some top officials of the civil and police administration, who could be working in favour of the BJP/ RSS. Gandhi is understood to have med some “suspected” officials.

“It was good meeting. The discussions were open. It will help strengthen the organization,” the Chief Minister said after the meeting.

Sources also said that Gogoi and Himanta engaged in a direct confrontation at the meeting on certain issues.

When asked, Himanta did not divulge much, but said, “We were asked to work unitedly. We are happy at the outcome of the meeting.”

“All is well. We are confident of winning over 71 seats,” Anjan Dutta exclaimed after the meeting.

This is for the first time in about a year that the central representatives of the Congress met the warring State leaders who had been at loggerheads for quite some time.

AICC representatives including Assam general secretary CP Joshi decided to mediate between the two warring factions of the Assam Congress after their discussions with Himanta last week.

Even as the rebels are cooperating with the AICC’s peace-making efforts, they are also working on a standby option. It is learnt that the rebels’ representatives have moved application with the Election Commission for registering a regiol party in the event of a contingency.