GUWAHATI, Dec 18 - With the Congress-AIUDF alliance failing to make a mark in the recent Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections, there is now a possibility of the grand old party re-evaluating its strategy for next year�s Assam Legislative Assembly polls as far as formation of the proposed �grand alliance� is concerned.
�A large chunk of our leaders and party workers were never comfortable with the idea of having an alliance with the AIUDF for the 2021 Assembly elections. With the kind of debacle that we faced in the BTC elections, the arguments advanced by those leaders against having any tie-up with the AIUDF have only gained more credibility. Besides, there is the likelihood of some of our incumbent legislators switching over to the BJP in the coming days. Most of them had opposed the idea of the AIUDF being included in the proposed opposition grand alliance,� a senior Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) office bearer told The Assam Tribune on condition of anonymity.
�The senior leadership of our party (Congress) and the AIUDF had conducted joint campaigns during the BTC polls. However, in the end, even the minority community voters deserted both our party as well as the AIUDF and instead supported the BPF. The BTC poll outcome has only strengthened the position of the anti-AIUDF group in our party. As such, there is a likelihood of the matter of alliance with the AIUDF being put on the backburner,� he added.
Congress sources said the party high command has not given its final word regarding the grand alliance proposal.
�Many in our party, especially those from upper Assam, believe that we should formally approach the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and the Raijor Dal and invite them to join the grand alliance. Our position in the minority-dominated areas of lower Assam, central Assam and Barak valley is not so bad. So there is no reason for us to tie up with the AIUDF. In the BTC polls, the AIUDF proved to be a liability for us and the same could happen in the Assembly elections as well if we form an alliance with Badruddin Ajmal,� said another Congress leader.
He said that the AJP and the Raijor Dal have been able to attract a segment of voters, particularly among the indigenous communities.
