The ministry of Kesab Chandra Gogoi was formed on 13 January 1982. The formation of the ministry ended 197 days of President’s rule in Assam. The ministry ended after only 66 days, after Gogoi resigned during a motion of no confidence vote. Gogoi then recommended that the state again be put under President’s Rule.[1][2][3]
Kesab Chandra Gogoi ministry | |
|---|---|
| Date formed | 13 January 1982 |
| Date dissolved | 19 March 1982 |
| People and organisations | |
| Head of state | Prakash Mehrotra |
| Head of government | Kesab Chandra Gogoi |
| Member party | |
| Status in legislature | Coalition |
| Opposition leader | Sarat Chandra Singha |
| History | |
| Predecessor | President's rule |
| Successor | President's rule |
History
editFormation
editPresident’s Rule was imposed in Assam after the Anwara Taimur government failed to get the Assam appropriation bill passed by the assembly. On 12 January 1982, Gogoi told the press that he had the backing of 63 MLAs. Gogoi stated "I cannot reveal the identities of the 63 legislators whose support I enjoy for obvious reasons. But I am confident I will prove my majority on the floor of the House." Gogoi then contested for the Leadership.[4]
The Taimur Camp had encouraged Hiteswar Saikia to contest Gogoi’s claim but an opinion poll before the final selection revealed only supporters of Saikia among the 35 partymen assembled while 24 favoured Gogoi and 3 remained neutral. Hours before the selection meeting, 4 Taimur supporters resigned from the party.[4]
Governor Prakash Mehrotra accepted Gogoi’s claim that he had the support of 63 MLAs and he was sworn in as Chief Minister of Assam on 13 January 1982 at Raj Bhavan in a simple ceremony. He constituted his Left-Janata coalition ministry on 13 January 1982.[1][3] For many MLAs support of the new government was fear that the Assembly may be dissolved if they don't.[4]
Ministry
editAt the time of the formation of the ministry, the foreigners issue was still very urgent. However Gogoi stated, "My government's policy will not be very different from the previous government's. There will be no reshuffle of officials. I am giving top priority to the solution of the foreigners issue and the maintenance of law and order. Apart from this, implementation of the prime minister's 20-point programme will be my major concern."[4]
As Gogoi said, the ministry focused on Indira Gandhi’s 20 point programmes and he gave more emphasis on the implementation of National Rural Employment Scheme.[1]
Motion of No-confidence
editOn 17 March 1982 a Motion of No Confidence was moved against the 65-day-old ministry. Sarat Chandra Singha, Golap Borbora, Hemen Das, Promode Gogoi, Zainal Abedin, Premadhar Bora and Romesh Mohan Kouli jointly filed the motion. The speaker admitted it and fixed discussion for 18 March 1982. However, the speaker adjourned the house sine die after he learned Gogoi tendered in his resignation to the Governor. The opposition had a majority in the house however the Governor chose to dissolve the legislative assembly on advice of Gogoi.
Gogoi, when asked why he recommended the assembly’s dissolution, said "I had no other alternative. If I did not make such a recommendation then the Governor would have had no other alternative but to allow the Opposition to form a ministry." Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Sarat Chandra Singha called this "sheer fascism".[2] On 19 March, the President Sanjiva Reddy then issued a proclamation which dissolved the legislative assembly and brought the state under President's rule.[5]
Cabinet
edit| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party | Constituency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Minister and also in-charge of: Department of Home Department of Administrative Reforms Department of Information and Public Relations Department of Khadi and Village Industries Department of Rural Development Department of Public Works Department of Tourism And all other departments and subjects not allocated to any other minister. | 13 January 1982 | 19 March 1982 | INC | Dibrugarh | ||
| Minister of Finance Minister of Minority Affairs Minister of Political Sufferers | Mohammed Idris | 13 January 1982 | 19 March 1982 | INC | Rupohihat | |
| Minister of Irrigation Minister of Fisheries Minister of Scheduled Castes and Tribal Welfare | Rabindra Nath Choudhury | 13 January 1982 | 19 March 1982 | JP | Abhayapuri South | |
| Minister of Education Minister of Cultural Affairs | 13 January 1982 | 19 March 1982 | INC | Nazira | ||
| Minister of Revenue Minister of Food and Civil Supplies | Ramesh Chandra Saharia | 13 January 1982 | 8 February 1982 | INC | Panery | |
| Minister of Flood Control Minister of Judicial Affairs | Altaf Hossain Mazumdar | 13 January 1982 | 19 March 1982 | INC | Barkhola | |
| Minister of Agriculture Minister of Town and Country Planning | Santi Ranjan Das Gupta | 13 January 1982 | 19 March 1982 | JP | Hojai | |
| Minister of Industry Minister of Public Enterprises | 13 January 1982 | 19 March 1982 | JP | Udharbond | ||
| Minister of Power Minister of Mines and Minerals Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Minister of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary | 13 January 1982 | 19 March 1982 | INC | Rangapara | ||
| Minister of Municipal Administration Minister of Community Development | 13 January 1982 | 19 March 1982 | JP | Mankachar | ||
| Minister of State for Rural Development Minister of State for Social Welfare[6] | A. N. Akram Hussain | 13 January 1982 | 19 March 1982 | INC | Chaygaon | |
| Minister of State for Transport Minister of State for Tourism | Padam Bahadur Chouhan | 13 January 1982 | 19 March 1982 | JP | Tamulpur | |
| Deputy Minister of Education | Mohammed Fakrul Islam | 13 January 1982 | 19 March 1982 | IND | Patharkandi | |
References
edit- 1 2 3 "Gogoi ministry" (PDF). shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- 1 2 Sumanta Sen (16 October 2013). "Assam: Congress(I) ministry led by Keshab Gogoi falls, President's Rule to return". India Today. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- 1 2 "January 14, 1982, Forty Years Ago: Assam Has New CM". The Indian Express. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- 1 2 3 4 "Assam Cong(I) factional tussle resolved with appointment of Keshab Chandra Gogoi as CM". India Today. 11 July 2014. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ↑ Malhotra, G. C. (2004). Cabinet Responsibility to Legislature: Motions of Confidence and No-confidence in Lok Sabha and State Legislatures. Lok Sabha Secretariat. ISBN 978-81-200-0400-9.
- ↑ Data India. Press Institute of India. 1982.