Assam: AIUDF plans third front, predicts hung Assembly

Fearing a hung Assembly after counting of votes on May 19, president of the All-India United Democratic Front Badruddin Ajmal claimed to have started an exercise to form a third front in Assam to form a secular government.

Admitting that his party was most vulnerable to poaching of legislators in case of a hung Assembly, Mr Ajmal said, “There have been attempt to form a third front with Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF).” The AGP and BPF has contested the just-concluded Assembly elections in alliance with the BJP.

Claiming that neither the BJP nor the ruling Congress would get majority, Mr Ajmal sounded confident of performing well in the Assembly polls. “AIUDF will get between 24 to 40 seats in the 126 member Assembly and with other parties we can form the next government. Speculation that AIUDF will be reduced to a single digit from 18 MLAs is not correct. We will decide on chief ministerial candidate later. The Congress can also join the third front,” Mr Ajmal said.

The perfume baron-turned-politician, Mr Ajmal, also created furore in the state’s political circle by announcing that he would be sending his elected legislators abroad in order to avoid any poaching in post-counting scenario.

Mr Ajmal said that a couple of independent candidates, with chances of winning the elections, are claiming that they have been getting feelers from the Congress and BJP to support them after the counting of votes on May 19.

In what has surprised many Mr Ajmal said, “I have asked the party’s candidates to keep their passports ready as he plans to fly them out of the country after May 19. We are scared that our MLAs may be poached.” The AIUDF contested on 71 seats in just concluded assembly polls.