GUWAHATI, Jan 18 - Following Congress� refusal to play ball regarding formation of a pre-poll alliance, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has now decided to revert back to its old policy of Ekla Chalo and fight the forthcoming Assembly elections on its own.
Speaking to The Assam Tribune, senior AIUDF leaders said that the party will now try to position itself as an alternative to both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
�However, at this moment we cannot say anything regarding formation of a third front. Most of the parties have showed reluctance to be part of such a front. So we will now focus all our energy on contesting from as many constituencies as possible and win as many of them as possible,� said a senior party office bearer.
Asked how many constituencies the party is planning to contest, he said, �Our leader Badruddin Ajmal is busy with public meetings across the State at this moment. Maybe by February we will be able to take a decision in this regard. Our election committee is scheduled to meet in the last week of January.�
Regarding the refusal by the Congress to form a pre-poll alliance with the Ajmal-led party, AIUDF leaders said that it was the grand old party which had initially mooted the idea of such an arrangement.
�Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi himself spoke of understanding among non-BJP parties and we also responded positively. However, our condition was that if there has to be any understanding it has to be formal and in public. So we sought 53 seats from them as our share. But we were ready for negotiations and give and take. And yet the Congress betrayed us. Congress will be responsible if the BJP manages to capture power in Dispur,� said a leader.
