Special Correspondent
SILCHAR: AIUDF Chief's entry makes a wave to sway the voters, particularly of minorities. This is what has been seen during his election rallies in the three constituencies of Hailakandi on Saturday. He kicked off his first public meeting at Jamira under Katlilcherra assembly constituency with massive turnout to demonstrate the strength of AIUDF that can swing the tide in favour of grand alliance, dwarfing BJP-AGP conglomerate. Pollsters, however, rule out crowds, big or small, as an index of advantage for any party. Last Bihar election is the glaring example of it.
Notwithstanding what pollsters say, Badaruddin Ajmal was quite a satisfied politician. He refrained from playing any rabid communal card to whip up emotional support. Rather, he chose to lambast BJP, the main adversary, by calling its 'development card' a jugglery to hide its failure on many fronts. The government in power at Dispur and Delhi, he said, failed to implement NRC and CAA, solve 'D' Voters' issue, demolish detention camps, check price rise, give employment to unemployed youths and ease the economic hardships of people. But, for BJP, Badaruddin Ajmal has become a bête noir to 'make him a scapegoat for all the ills.'
To the lusty cheers of the crowds, AIUDF supremo, said, "Nothing could stop our Mahajote from winning 12 of the 15 assembly seats in Barak Valley." He was aware that his party is contesting on 5 seats only. He played to the psyche of the people in an assertive mode in these words, "BJP alliance will see exit door on May 2 to make passage for the grand alliance." The pitch of Hailakandi is no doubt in favour of AIUDF, considering the fact that all the three seats of Hailakandi, Katlicherra and Algapur were held by it in 2016. Continuing his tirade against BJP, Ajmal said the saffron alliance in power could not address any issues of public importance excepting feeding people with false promises. He called upon voters to elect mahajote which will look into the burning issues for practicable solution.
At Jamira, Badaruddin Ajmal was campaigning for sitting MLA of his party Sujam Uddin Laskar against whom the main challenge is from Subrata Nath of BJP. He could not control his anguish at Sanjeev Roy of Congress, contesting as an independent, to queer the pitch of Sujam Uddin. Sanjeev calls it a friendly contest as he has emotional chord with Katlicherra from where his father Gauri Shankar Roy won in 1967 as a Congress MLA. In fact, denial of ticket turned him a rebel to contest and perhaps cause debacle for Sujam.
Ignoring the stand of Sanjeev Roy, Badaruddin Ajmal said, "If Sujam wins by more than one lakh votes, he would try his best to see that he is inducted in the cabinet to push forward his agenda of development." Interestingly, Sujam has often in his address to the public highly praised Sarbananda Sonowal government for sanctioning welfare schemes and projects which he sincerely implemented. If re-elected, Sujam uddin would keep his words to serve people. Still interesting, Sujam had defeated six time winner Gautom Roy from Katlicherra.