Guwahati:
Himanta Biswa Sarma, who resigned as a minister from the Congress government led by chief minister Tarun Gogoi, today launched a scathing attack on the party leadership, saying there was no internal democracy.
"The high command has clearly expressed her willingness to retain Gogoi, after that there is no point in sticking around," Mr Sarma told NDTV.
He also said, "If Tarun Gogoi's leadership continues this way this I might have to think otherwise," indicating the formation of a new party.
Mr Sarma also clarified that he is not going to come back in the Gogoi cabinet. "I will remain as a critic of the Congress government and play the role of a constructive Opposition. I still don't accept Tarun Gogoi's ways. It is my personal decision to quit and not as a dissident camp," he said.
The resignation of Mr Sarma, who was No 2 in the Gogoi cabinet, came as a blow for Congress as it confronts deep dissent in one of the few states where it is in power.
Speaking at a press conference after resigning, the leader, seen as spearheading the revolt against Mr Gogoi, denied that he harbours ambitions to be installed as the Chief Minister himself. "We want to save the party. I am not a chief ministerial candidate so this is not a personal thing," he said, claiming that he has the support of more than 40 of the Congress party's 78 state legislators.
"No one can work under Gogoi mentally, physically anymore," Mr Sarma insisted.
Mr Gogoi who is serving his third term as Chief Minister, led his party to a comfortable victory in the last state elections in 2011. But growing divides within the party leapfrogged after the Congress was trounced in the national election in May, winning just three of the state's 14 parliamentary seats and inciting a campaign for Mr Gogoi's removal as chief minister. The BJP boosted its tally from three to seven.