GUWAHATI, Oct 26 - Lok Sabha MP from Dhubri Badruddin Ajmal was today unanimously re-elected president of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) for the consecutive fifth term.
Ajmal was re-elected to head the party for another three-year term during the party�s general council meeting held here. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ajmal said the AIUDF leadership will discuss the matter in the party forum in case the Congress makes a formal proposal for an electoral alliance or tie-up.
When pointed out that former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has, contrary to his earlier stand, expressed possibility for a tie-up with AIUDF, Ajmal said no such proposals have come from the State Congress unit or the Congress Legislature Party.
�I thank Gogoi for accepting the reality of the situation. But the fact is that Gogoi does not hold any official position in the Congress party at present. So, how can we consider his statement as a formal proposal for a tie-up?� the AIUDF boss stated.
He claimed that the results of the recent by-polls to four Assembly seats in Assam as well as the results from Maharashtra and Haryana elections are a setback for the Congress.
�The results of the recent polls prove that Congress has become zero nationally. Congress has become zero in Assam, in Maharashtra and Haryana. In Assam, the BJP and the AIUDF are now the two main players. If we receive any formal proposal (from the Congress), our party may consider the issue. In such a situation, we will discuss the matter in our party forum. But as of today, I cannot say what our decision will be. The party will decide,� Ajmal said.
He said the Congress and the AIUDF have had �understandings� on occasions in the past also. �But the Congress did not play by the book and betrayed us,� said the MP from Dhubri.
Expressing satisfaction about the AIUDF�s performance in the by-elections, Ajmal said, �We fielded our candidates only in one seat (Jania) and won from there. Congress contested all the four constituencies and drew a blank. So, Congress is zero and we are the hero.�
