Congress to Himanta Biswa Sarma: Not fair to talk to some Oppn MLAs for development

GUWAHATI: The Congress has reminded chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to perform 'rajdharma' and be impartial in his dealings with opposition legislators. The party took umbrage at Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi meeting his arch rival, CM Sarma, at the state guest house in Koinadhora here on Sunday evening and being assured of development in his constituency.
In a statement issued on Monday, Assam PCC general secretary and chairperson of its media department, Bobbeeta Sharma, said the CM should deter from 'employing tactics of division' among opposition MLAs. "We saw yesterday that Akhil Gogoi, Raijor Dal opposition MLA from Sivasagar constituency, had an hour-long discussion with the CM about development in his constituency. We appreciate that the CM of Assam has given time to Gogoi and assurance that development projects will be carried out as promised by Gogoi during the election," she said and added that the CM is entrusted with the responsibility of development in 126 constituencies of the state. "Hence it is expected that he should give the same assurance of development in other opposition MLA constituencies," said Sharma.
She added that the CM had time and again publicly stated that opposition MLAs should only deliver speeches in the assembly, while for all practical purposes, the guardian ministers would be responsible for the work in the constituencies. Sharma said this had forced three MLAs to switch sides on the grounds of development and bypolls were held in their constituencies.
"It was apparent from the election speeches by the CM and the MLA candidates who joined the ruling party after defecting from the opposition camp, that development of constituencies was possible only if the MLA belonged to the ruling party," she added.