Assam: AIUDF to rope in Hafiz Rashid for Karimganj seat

SILCHAR: As the general election is inching forward, the Muslim politics in Barak Valley sees a series of dramatic twists as Badrauddin Ajmal steps in Silchar on Wednesday. After being rejected by INDIA, Ajmal had challenged the Congress with the announcement that his party would field candidates in three Muslim-dominated seats Dhubri, Nowgaon and Karimganj. As a preparatory exercise, Ajmal reached Silchar on Wednesday only to realize that Barak Valley, once a strong fort of the AIUDF had lost its past glory and vigour. Influential Islamic organisations like Aahle Sunnat, Nadwatut Tamir and a faction of Jamiat Ulema had in clear terms informed the emissaries of Ajmal that they did not support any move that might make fissure in Muslim votes in Karimganj. Sources said, Ajmal had already approached noted advocate Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Chowdhury for Karimganj seat. Hafiz Rashid, one of the architect of the AIUDF, left the party following his dissatisfaction with the way Ajmal was trying to shape the party. On Friday, Ajmal while speaking to this correspondent, admitted that they had approached Hafiz Rashid.

Recently Chowdhury was seen sharing dias with the Congress leaders of the Barak Valley, though in non political assembly. Sources said, state Congress had already offered him the nomination for the Karimganj seat, however, in close circuit, Chowdhury had made it clear that until he received written proposal from the AICC, he would not take the plunge.

Meanwhile, influential Islamic organisations of the Valley had advised the AIUDF leadership that this time the party should support the Congress. However, if Chowdhury contests as the AIUDF candidate, then Muslims would rally behind him.

In this backdrop, Moulana Sarimul Haque, the chief of Aahle Sunnat had reportedly laid down a condition that if Ajmal in written form assures that his party would back INDIA in case of forming the government, only then he would support the AIUDF in Karimganj. On Wednesday night, MLA Karimuddin Barbhuiyan met Haque in his Katlicherra residence as the emissary of the AIUDF chief and conveyed the message that Ajmal wished to have a joint forum of all the three major Islamic organisations and back the AIUDF in Karimganj. Haque however kept the proposal aside arguing that these three organisations should at first sit together and let a consensus be arrived at.

In this backdrop, Ajmal added a new twist as he arrived at the residence of former MLA Ataur Rahman Majharbhuiyan. Though both the leaders denied any political discussion, sources said, Ajmal actually tried to win over Majharbhuiyan’s support. Recently, Majharbhuiyan, once in the AIUDF and now in the Congress, announced that Nadwatut Tamir would support the Congress in Karimganj.

So far one thing is clear that the Muslim this time would vote en bloc to resist vote division in Karimganj. Ajmal too had understood this sentiment and hence he was desperately trying to rope in Hafiz Rashid, the only person, who had the backing of all the Islamic organisations. If the Congress denies him the ticket, Hafiz Rashid might return to his old party.

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