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AIUDF ready to explore idea of electoral alliance with Cong

By PRANJAL BHUYAN

GUWAHATI, Aug 5 - The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) is exploring the possibility of having a tie-up with the Congress party for the forthcoming by-polls in four Assembly constituencies of the State as well as for elections to urban local bodies (ULB), provided the principal Opposition party makes a formal proposal in this regard.

The Badruddin Ajmal-led party�s views comes just a couple of days after former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi hinted that the Congress sees no hurdle is trying to arrive at some sort of understanding with various non-BJP outfits, including the AIUDF as well as parties representing various ethnic communities of Assam.

�We have been seeking a formal tie-up or at least some sort of informal minimum understanding with the Congress since many years. They always rebuffed us. However, it is better late than never. We are happy that the Congress has now expressed interest in making such an effort,� a senior AIUDF leader told The Assam Tribune.

He, however, added that AIUDF was yet to discuss the issue formally within the party forum.

�Experience of the past has not been good for our party in this regard. So we would prefer the Congress to make a formal proposal to us. We want to see if the Congress party is really serious about the matter. If they (Congress) sends us a formal proposal for an understanding or tie-up for the upcoming by-polls and for the elections to the ULBs of Assam, our party�s core committee and general body will definitely discuss the issue,� said the AIUDF leader.

He added, �we also believe that besides the Congress and the AIUDF, there is also a need to bring other non-BJP parties closer under a broad-based anti-BJP front. Under the BJP dispensation, the country is moving towards authoritarianism. Therefore, it is imperative that the division of anti-BJP votes be minimised to the extent possible.�

AIUDF is of the opinion that the BJP�s success in Assam, both during the 2016 Assembly elections and the recent Lok Sabha polls, was to a large extent on account of the ruling party�s success in cobbling together an alliance even as the Opposition failed to take similar initiatives.

The leader added that AIUDF is getting ready for the forthcoming by-polls to four legislative Assembly constituencies.

These seats fell vacant after the legislators representing them got elected to the Lok Sabha in the recent parliamentary polls and resigned from the Assembly.

Kripanath Mallah (Ratabari constituency), Pallab Lochan Das (Rangapara) and Topon Kumar Gogoi (Sonari), all from the BJP, besides Abdul Khaleque of Congress (Jania constituency) vacated their Assembly seats after getting elected to the Lok Sabha.

By-polls to these four constituencies have to be held by November end.

In addition, elections to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) as well as to other ULBs of the State are also expected to take place later this year.

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