Now Assam gets third State Guest House!

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER 
Guwahati, June 17: After letting two State Guest Houses be occupied by two Chief Ministers, the Assam government has now decided to create a third State Guest House, a move termed by many as Tughlaqesque at the cost of the State exchequer. 
The Assam government on Friday decided to completely take over Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok in the city by buying 51 per cent share from the ITDC and convert the luxurious hotel into a State Guest House. Assam Tourism Development Corporation already has 49 per cent share in Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok. 
The state government’s decision has raised many eyebrows and the question doing the rounds is why does the State need another guest house costing huge sums of public money. 
The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority had built the Brahmaputra Guest House at Uzan Bazar with all facilities to accommodate VIPs and VVIPs, including the Prime Minister visiting the State. The guest house is currently being occupied by Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal using it as his official residence. The government has already spent several crores in constructing spacious and luxurious official residential quarters for the Chief Minister and his council of Ministers near Jata Bhawan at Dispur. 
Sources said despite having the arrangement of official quarter at Dispur, Chief Minister Sonowal is no mood to leave the Brahmaputra Guest House due to reasons best known to him.    
On the other hand, another plush State Guest House at Koidhara hilltop at Khapara is being occupied by former chief minister Tarun Gogoi. Three-time CM Gogoi has been residing in the guest house for the last 16 years. Sources said even though Gogoi has expressed his desire to leave Koidhara guest house, the State government is not letting him vacate the premises due to reasons unknown.       
Now the Assam government is set to create a third State Guest House at Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok, raising doubts among the public whether it will accommodate State Guests there, or yet another chief minister in future.