Congress faces troubles as Rane, Sarma quit

Narayan Rane in Maharashtra and Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam resigned from the posts. 

Maharashtra Industries Minister and senior Congress leader from Konkon region, Narayan Rane, resigned from his position, signalling dissidence in the party in the western state.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has not yet accepted his resignation.

Amid reports that he is getting close to the BJP, Rane, who had left Shiv Sena in 2005 to join Congress, said he had met BJP leader Nitin Gadkari only when Gopinath Munde passed away.

Rebellion had been brewing in the state after the Lok Sabha polls when the Congress-NCP combine won only six seats together- Congress two and NCP four.

Assam Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday resigned from the Congress ministry signalling a growing rebellion in the unit in the Northeastern state after a poor show in the Lok Sabha polls and said he would continue to oppose Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi but would abide by the central leadership of Sonia Gandhi

"We do not have confidence in Gogoi," said Sarma, adding that "we do not want his leadership." At least 32 Congress MLAs also followed him, said reports.

"Now decision has come from central leadership is that Gogoi will continue. What minimum we can do is to resign," said Sarma, sending a warning to the Congress High Command in New Delhi, adding that there should be a change in leadership for the 2015 assembly polls in the state.

"I have protested against the leadership of Gogoi," he said.

He said under him Congress will come to single digit figure in Assam.

He said his allegiance is only to party president Sonia Gandhi.

"I have decided not to compromise with my conscience any more," he tweeted.

Earlier reports said, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had lent his support to the embattled Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. The 78-year-old CM has been facing dissidence over his leadership for nearly two years now.

Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said the party high command cannot be forced to take hasty decision  even as the disgruntled group claimed the support of 55 of the 77 Congress MLAs in the 126-member house in demanding a change in leadership. 

Dissidents earlier told central observer Mallikarjun Kharge that they do not want Gogoi as their leader. Kharge has submitted a report to Sonia Gandhi on Assam.