AIUDF chief Badaruddin Ajmal faces pitfalls for 2021 poll battle

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: AIUDF Chief Badaruddin Ajmal's dream of upsetting BJP applecart in Assam in 2021 has been upset as his most cherished wish of forming grand alliance with Congress, CPI, CPM and other likeminded parties gets jolted with state INC turning its back on him. Further, BJP riding back to power in Bihar with Nitish Kumar's JDU defying all exit poll predictions and Ajmal's own firm conviction of a saffron defeat have given rude shock to AIUDF projection to be at the citadel of power at Dispur.

Well predicted formation of a new government by Mahajote led by Tejaswari Yasav, RJD supremo, slipping off by a few seats from power in Bihar was mainly due to Congress which was given 70 seats but could secure 19 only. Political pundits thought after learning lesson from Bihar, Ajmal would discard Congress and think of taking other non BJP parties in his fold without too much banking on INC and hobnobbing with its state leaders. His dilemma is AIUDF is not strong enough to take on the challenge alone. Left parties have no base.

Badaruddin Ajmal knows his party is still miles to go to come to the status of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) of Bihar. So knowing well the hazards of going with Congress, he has decided to approach Sonia Gandhi and Jitendra Singh, in charge of Assam, to seek their support. He is aware of Tejaswari Yadav's waterloo, but there is no alternative. Mahajote is more important than win or loss, it seems for him. There is no end to his discomfiture. State Congress leadership, according to a report from INC sources, is giving second thought to sail with AIUDF in view of its supremo's communal overtones.

The Dhubri MP has had not so pleasant experiences during his 4 day Barak Valley pre poll campaign in the early part of this month. He addressed as many as four workers' meet, all crowded, at Sonai, Badarpur, Ainakhal and Boraigram, indicating overwhelming support for AIUDF. He was no doubt happy beyond measure. The party has at present all the 3 seats of Hailakandi district and one in South Karimganj. Badaruddin Ajmal kept his cards to his chest, keeping leaders and workers guessing as the number of ticket seekers for the 12 assembly seats to be contested desperately vying with one another to get his blessings. Even the winners of 2016 were lobbying for favour again.

But he dropped a surprise for the ticket aspirants like a bolt from the blue. Ajmal declared no money or muscle power can qualify you for a ticket. Give Rs 10 crore each for building 100 bedded hospital at Hailakandi under the care of Ajmal Foundation. Rs 5 crore for ticket and Rs 5 crore after win. Such unexpected commercial offer for tickets sent waves of shock among the workers and leaders, raising questions if their leader was here to sell tickets. What started with a bang ended in a whimper.

Also Read: AIUDF Chief Ajmal pledges to reopen Madrassas in Assam if votes to power

Also Watch: No respite for Akhil Gogoi, next hearing on Dec 8