GUWAHATI, Jan 4 - The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) is open to the idea of being part of any alternative �political equation� which may emerge to take on the ruling BJP in the run-up to the 2021 Assembly elections in Assam.
The Badruddin Ajmal-led party also believes that the ongoing mass movement in the State against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, or the CAA, could give rise to such an alternative arrangement.
�Our aim is to ensure the defeat of the BJP, which is not only a communal party but is also anti-Assam and anti-Assamese. Considering that factor, we have no objection whatsoever to any new political equation that may come into the picture with a purpose to safeguard the Assamese people and the future of the State,� a senior AIUDF office-bearer told this newspaper.
It is noteworthy that both State Congress president Ripun Bora and former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had on Friday openly stated that the principal Opposition party is ready to join hands with all �anti-BJP� and �anti-CAA� forces, giving a clear indication towards an effort for formation of a broad-based front against the ruling NDA for the 2021 Assembly elections.
Asked about the statement issued by the two senior Congress leaders, the AIUDF office-bearer said, �Congress has not specifically mentioned the name of our party. So it would be premature to make a direct comment regarding what Bora and Gogoi said.�
He, however, added that AIUDF had over the years �extended the hand of friendship� to the Congress a number of times but failed to elicit any response on each occasion.
In addition to the comments of Bora and Gogoi, the Ajmal-led party�s latest view regarding an alternative �equation� assumes significance also on account of the fact that there is speculation about the possibility of formation of a new regional party from within the ongoing movement against the CAA.
�While there is uncertainty if any new political party will emerge or not in the near future, there is no doubt that a united effort of all anti-BJP forces is the need of the time. The anti-CAA agitation has led to shift of the momentum away from the ruling party. People not only in Assam but across the country are desperate to see the back of the BJP. However, fragmentation of Opposition votes will help the ruling party and all efforts must be made to prevent such an outcome. Our party is ready to make necessary adjustments for that purpose,� said another AIUDF leader.
He added that split in the Opposition votes was the main reason for success of the BJP in the State during last year�s Lok Sabha polls, when the ruling party won from nine out of the 14 constituencies in Assam.
