Guwahati: Tarun Gogoi was unanimously elected today as leader of the Congress Legislature Party setting the stage for chief ministership for the second successive term in Assam under a Congress-led coalition. Talking to reporters later, a beaming Gogoi said no date had yet been fixed for the swearing in of his ministry but said it could be well before May 17. The 53 newly-elected Congress MLAs individually gave their choice for Gogoi before AICC special observer Mohsina Kidwai, sent by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and AICC in-charge of Assam Digvijay Singh and party observer Chandan Bakchi here. Informing Gandhi about the MLA's unanimous choice and discussing the issue with her, Kidwai told the CLP members that Gandhi had approved Gogoi's as leader. Senior Congress leader and health minister in the outgoing ministry, Bhumidhar Burman proposed Tarun Gogoi's name, which was seconded by MLAs, Gobinda Chandra Langthasa, Jibon Tara Ghatowar and Gautam Roy. Besides the 12 Bodoland People's Progressive Front (Hagrama faction) MLAs, the Congress also received support of nine independent MLAs and the lone NCP member taking the total tally of the new coalition government to 75, Gogoi said.
| 
