Assam: Congress forges alliance with AIUDF

 | 

GUWAHATI | AUG 20, 2020:

The Congress party in Assam has finally decided to align itself with the Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in the 2021 Assam Assembly elections.

According to an agreement between the two parties, the candidate for the Chief Minister's post will be from Congress.

This latest development has also stirred up a powerful reaction from the people of Assam.

"Congress might score a big zero in the 2021 Assam Assembly elections as the party is unpopular in Upper Assam. Though they have a presence in Lower Assam, they seem to be trying to cheat their way through the elections along with Badruddin Ajmal," said a resident of Jorhat.

"Given the current situation, Congress cannot form the government. Even if they do, the AIUDF's will play a major role in it. If AIUDF wins many seats, they might ask for the CM's seat and the Congress will have no other choice but to give them the CM's post," he added.

"I am a Congress worker and if the alliance is with such a party, I'm worried about how they will protect regionalism. Ajmal's party is communal and Assamese Muslims will never support such parties. They will not have the support of citizens from Upper Assam. If such an alliance happens, we will consider the AIUDF as the number 1 and Congress as the number 2 party," chimed in another resident.

We may also note that back in the 2016 Assam Assembly election, Congress won 26 seats out of 122. Meanwhile, the AIUDF won 13 out of 74 seats.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 60 out of 89 seats with the BJP's allies Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People's front bagging 14 and 12 seats, respectively.

ALSO READ: