Electioneering is picking up in Assam. In the run up to the crucial assembly battle apparently the Congress has lost the initial advantage it had.
That way credit ought to be given to Assam chief minister and the key BJP leader in northeast Himanta Biswa Sarma for having turned the table. Certainly he worked hard and worked to a plan to change certain political dynamics on ground.
In the meantime, the Muslim-backed All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) of Badruddin Ajmal is likely to go solo for the 2026 assembly polls. However, the party may try to help the Congress in an indirect manner in seats where it would not field candidates.
The final decision - nevertheless - is yet to be taken.
As part of its plans; the AIUDF may actually renominate most of its sitting legislators for the Assembly elections. But the party which once virtually controlled the state's political nerve vis-a-vis Muslim vote-base may limit itself for electoral fight only in constituencies having a substantial number of electors from the Muslim community.
In 2021 assembly elections, AIUDF was part of the Congress-led Mahajot (grand alliance) and had picked up 16 seats out of 20 it contested. But in 2024 Lok Sabha polls while it contested three -- it drew a blank.
AIUDF general secretary Haidor Hussain Bora told 'The Assam Tribune' that the party will field candidates primarily from its traditional bastions in the Barak Valley, central Assam, and Lower Assam, besides the Ranganadi and Nowboicha seats.
AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal perhaps got a mega political shock in 2024 parliamentary polls when he lost from his pocket-borrow Dhubri constituency. He has been winning the seat for three consecutive term in 2009, 2014 and 2019.
There was no alliance with the Congress in Lok Sabha polls and the seat was snatched by Congress nominee Rakibul Hussain. Even otherwise it was a traditionally strong Congress bastion with the grand old party retaining the seat repeatedly for six terms since 1977.
Now the AIUDF has announced the name of Badruddin Ajmal for ensuing Rajya Sabha polls. But the party is not sure of win and hence as a moral booster for party workers; the outfit says even Ajmal may contest the fast approaching assembly election.
“Our party members want Ajmal to enter the fray in the Assembly elections from the Binnakandi constituency," says AIUDF leader Bora.
In fact, the manner AIUDF could not open account in 2024 polls shows the Bengali Muslim support base of the party had dwindled.
This may actually open the polity for a new game and fresh permutation and combination altogether.
 |
| Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi has to reboot party strategies |
“Our priority is preventing fragmentation of the anti-BJP votes," says Bora adding that is why "we will field candidates only in select constituencies".
By this strategy, the AIUDF wants in the remaining seats, the Congress and the other Opposition parties can take on the BJP-led NDA.
In fact, the AIUDF is also aware that the Congress is enforcing a hidden policy of 'untouchability' with it because there is campaign from the BJP that the AIUDF for practical purpose is a typically pro-Bangladeshi immigrant party.
Assam's Muslim population is substantial, estimated around 35-40% of the state's total, with figures from recent years suggesting figures close to 14 million.
Indeed, they make a significant demographic group but the BJP poll strategists led by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma have applied muti-pronged political moves and have made them politically vulnerable.
Almost sounding helpless, the AIUDF leader Bora says:
"Although the Congress-led bloc has refused to include us in their grouping, we still want to see the BJP-led NDA defeated in the elections,”.
The AIUDF’s target is to secure at least 25 seats this year.
In the past, the party had won 10 seats in 126-member assembly in the 2006 Assembly polls, 18 in 2011, 13 in 2016, and 16 in 2021.
The party is certainly keen "extend" necessary political support to the Congress and other Opposition parties in constituencies where it will not contest.
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment