In what may create serious confusion in the Assam Congress before the elections, a group of Congress legislators claimed to have been authorised by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to find out at least five names who could be the replacement for Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi. This was claimed by a group of disgruntled MLAs a day after Mr Gogoi said, “I was asked by AICC about reshuffle in the state council of ministers and PCC but I have suggested that there is no need of a reshuffle in view of the forthcoming LS elections.” Five Congress MLAs, including Jayanta Mallah Barua, Rekibuddin Ahmed, Pallab Lochan, Pijush Hazarika and Sushanta Buragohain, in an interview to a TV channel said that they had a meeting with Mr Gandhi at the Congress war-room and chalked out strategies ahead the forthcoming LS polls. “We suggested that party should have at least five such leaders who could be the alternative to the incumbent chief minister,” MLA and an ardent follower of health minister Rekibuddin Ahmed told reporters.
