Idea of forming anti-BJP alliance in Assam fades

The idea of forming a grand alliance of anti-BJP parties by Congress in Assam has started fading with two newly formed regional parties rejecting the offer and a month after contesting the Bodoland Territorial Council elections together the Congress has denied having any tie up with the All India United Democratic Front for assembly polls in April.

Confusion over the proposed alliance between Congress and AIUDF started after AICC general secretary and party’s state in-charge Jitendra Singh said that the Congress high command will not bypass the opinion of ground level workers before finalising an alliance with AIUDF for the 2021 Assam elections.

“There is nothing regarding the alliance. I have not met Mr Badruddin Ajmal and nobody is in touch (regarding the alliance with AIUDF),” Mr Singh told reporters. “I don’t think there have been any talks between the Congress high command and AIUDF leaders. Any discussion on alliance politics has to go through the general secretary incharge for the state,” said Mr Singh

The remarks of the AICC general secretary came soon after AIUDF supremo Badruddin Ajmal said that an alliance between the two parties was going to be finalized soon.

“Talks on Congress and AIUDF ties are at the final stage,” said Mr Ajmal. In fact the idea of forming a grand alliance of all the anti-CAA forces was floated and stitched by late chief minister Tarun

Gogoi.

Two newly formed regional political parties - Assam Jatiya Parishad and Raijor Dal have also rejected the idea of grand alliance with the Congress party.

“Since the beginning, our stand is clear. We will try to unite all regional forces and maintain distance from the national parties. We are firm on this and so we have decided to form an alliance with Raijor Dal. An agreement in this regard will be signed very soon,” AJP president, Lurinjyoti Gogoi told reporters.

Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) led by Lurinjyoti Gogoi, former All Assam Students' Union (AASU) leader and Raijor Dal led by jailed farmers' leader Akhil Gogoi came into being following the antiCAA agitation in December 2019, which turned violent.