Guwahati:
AIUDF chief and sitting MP from Assam's Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency Maulana Badaruddin Ajmal claimed that he could not be part of the INDIA bloc as he was told that Rahul Gandhi did not want a bearded man with a skull in the alliance, fearing an unfavorable situation. impact on the votes of the Hindus.
'They are afraid, I was told honestly. I spoke to Sharad Pawar and Nitish Kumar, who were initially the architects of this new block. He told me honestly, 'Rahul Gandhi doesn't want you to be part of this because it will impact Hindu voters. They don't want people with beards or hats to be part of that.' But I have a feeling they're going to need me after this election. There may be a new third front.
In Assam, where one of the main candidates contesting in phase 3 of the seven-phase elections is three-time MP from Dhubri and the head of the All India United Democratic Front, or AIUDF, Maulana Badaruddin Ajmal. The veteran politician has a huge influence over the Muslim voters of lower Assam and was an ally of the Congress in the last assembly elections and even in the UPA. But this time he faces a huge challenge from Congress.
Mr Ajmal, seen as the founder of Muslim politics in Assam, has promised to build 700 madrassas if re-elected.
“What I have done for Dhubri, Congress cannot do in a hundred years. I have always been in opposition and not in power. Yet I performed for fifteen years. Bank erosion, drinking water and better education are my priorities this time. Congress's hand is broken…
“There could be anti-incumbency in my seat. I fight with my performance. Half of the children studying in my Ajmal Foundation are Hindus. Yet they call me a community. The BJP will get more Muslim votes than in the past, but it won' I'm a little angry this time. Our employees are overconfident,” he said.
The Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency is all set for a triangular contest between the AIUDF, Congress's Rakibul Hussian and NDA ally Asom Gana Parishad's Zabed Islam.
In the third phase of the ongoing general elections, elections will be held on May 7 and votes will be counted on June 4.