Badruddin Ajmal said AIUDF will support a leader from Congress as the next chief minister of Assam
Badruddin Ajmal, the chief of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), a constituent of the Congress-led Mahajoth alliance in Assam, on Saturday reiterated that the party would support a Congress Chief Minister in the state.
"AIUDF is committed to supporting a Congress CM in the state after 2 May (sic). Congress Mahajot govt, an alliance of Ten parties, will work equally for all regions & communities of Assam without fear or favour," Mr Ajmal tweeted.
This is for the first time Mr Ajmal, who had been campaigning for the Congress both on field and in social media platforms, openly declared of supporting the Congress's menifesto of the five guarantees.
The guarantees are to pass an ordinance preventing the Citizenship Law from being implemented in Assam, raise 5 lakh government jobs, raise tea workers' wages to Rs 365, provide free electricity up to 200 units per household and impart Rs 2,000 monthly income support to all housewives, if voted to power.
Mr Ajmal had earlier vouched his support for a Congress Chief Minister as well after the completion of first phase of Assam elections on March 27.
As the Congress - the main opposition in Assam elections - hasn't announced a Chief Ministerial candidate yet, Mr Ajmal's declaration puts rest to a lot of speculation - and some allegations - regarding him to be the next chief minister if the Mahajoth wins the elections.
The Mahajoth, besides AIUDF, a one-time Congress's arch-rival, also includes Bodoland People's Front, a former BJP ally, four Left parties, the regional Ancholik Gana Parishad and Rashtriya Janata Dal.
Mr Ajmal's comment now also holds significance - or rather exudes confidence on the alliance - because the party has a considerable hold in the constituencies that have gone for polls in second phase and in the upcoming third phase especially in southern Assam's Barak Valley and chaar areas of western Assam.
The BJP-led alliance, which had more than often portrayed the AIUDF as a sympathiser of the "infiltrators", were scathing in the runup to the elections saying the alliance will make Mr Ajmal as Chief Minister if voted to power.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in a recent public meeting had stated that Congress and AIUDF are enemies of the state as both the parties want to bring in infiltrators from across the border.