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Mahanta ousts rebels

Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has accepted Forest Minister Atul Bora's resignation, and dropped Higher Education Minister Jatin Mali from his ministry.

Mahanta's action was a counter-attack to stop the rebellion which Bora started. The forest minister had submitted his resignation on Monday.

On Saturday, Bora had been shifted from the public works department to forest department, provoking him to go all out against the CM, bringing to fore the simmering dissension within the Asom Gana Parishad ministry. The minister was actively supported by Mali and a few others.

Mahanta sacked Mali on Tuesday for 'anti-government' activities, sending a strong signal to the other ministers who are supporting Bora. Transport Minister Pradeep Hazarika and Science Minister Haji Abdur Rouft are among the dissidents. Another minister, Rajendra Mushahary, who was in the Bora camp, had returned to Mahanta late Monday night.

The dissident camp so far has open support of more than 10 MLAs. The unofficial support, Bora claims, is much more.

UNI

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