The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), led by Badruddin Ajmal, has signalled its readiness to back a third front or any coalition without the BJP to form the government at the Centre.
Emphasising their stance, AIUDF General Secretary Rafiqul Islam asserted that they would extend support to any anti-BJP coalition unconditionally.
Islam expressed scepticism about the Congress's ability to secure more than 50 seats in the ongoing elections, suggesting that the party would need to collaborate with other political entities to establish a government sans the BJP. According to him, the Congress lacks the necessary strength to independently form a government.
Furthermore, Islam predicted that the BJP would fall short of its ambitious target of 400 seats, estimating that the party's tally would remain below 200. He labelled the BJP as a communal entity while expressing confidence in Badruddin Ajmal's victory in the Dhubri constituency for the fourth consecutive time, with an expected increased margin of victory compared to previous elections.
AIUDF's strategy appears to be aimed at countering the BJP's influence, with Islam indicating that they are prepared to ally with any opposition party that can challenge the BJP effectively. However, he criticised the Congress for primarily focusing on Muslim voters while neglecting to address the concerns of the Hindu community.
Islam's remarks highlight the significance of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Assam, particularly in four key constituencies – Barpeta, Dhubri, Guwahati, and Kokrajhar – scheduled for polling in the third phase on May 7. These elections will conclude the electoral process for all 14 parliamentary seats in the state.
In the current electoral landscape, the BJP is contesting 11 out of 14 seats in Assam, with its allies – Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) – contesting two and one seat, respectively. In the previous elections, BJP secured 7 seats, while Congress and AIUDF each won three.
However, in 2019, BJP's seat count increased to 9, with Congress and AIUDF retaining their three seats and one seat, respectively.
As Assam prepares for the third phase of elections, AIUDF's position underscores the evolving political dynamics in the state and the strategic alliances being forged to counter the BJP's dominance.
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