With this declaration of Boro, Mahanta is safe at least for another ten days till the next AGP legislature party tentatively scheduled to meet on June 3, when by-elections to two Assembly constituencies are to be held. For Mahanta, this temporary reprieve has come as god-sent, because the campaign of the rebels has indirectly suffered from gathering momentum, while he also gets ample time to not only just keep his support intact, but also to wean away MLAs from the dissidents' camp.

The rebel camp however claimed today that more MLAs were joining it day by day, though Atul Bora, the leader of the camp was unable to mention anyspecific number. The Mahanta camp on the other hand claimed that there were hardly eight MLAs on the other side, which number is not sufficient to topple the Chief Minister. Senior minister Thaneswar Boro, whom the rebels have projected as their candidate to replace Mahanta by pitching him in the next AGP legislature party meeting, on his part has also clarified that though he had no objection for being made a candidate to contest Mahanta, `it is ultimately for the legislature party to decide.'

The AGP has 64 members in the state assembly, of whom the rebel camp will have to muster the support of at least 33 to oust Mahanta in case a trial of strength is ultimately held. Atul Bora, when contacted, said he would wait till the legislature party meeting as stated by Thaneswar Boro. ``But our efforts to get support from more MLAs will continue,'' he said. But observers here pointed out that the situation was now more likely to go in favour of Mahanta, who is also likely to effect a major expansion of hisministry after the assembly by-elections.