AIUDF candidates fly back to Assam fearing lockdown

Guwahati: The candidates of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), who had been moved to Jaipur due to horse-trading fears, on Friday came back to Assam, fearing an impending lockdown like situation which may not allow them to return back to state even at the time of counting of votes on May 2. It is significant that 17 candidates were shifted to Fairmont Hotel in Jaipur exactly a week ago. They were expected to be in Jaipur till around May 2, when the results are scheduled to be declared.

The candidates of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), who had been moved to Jaipur due to horse-trading fears, on Friday came back to Assam, fearing an impending lockdown like situation which may not allow them to return back to the state even at the time of counting of votes on May 2.

It is significant that 17 candidates were shifted to Fairmont hotel in Jaipur exactly a week ago. They were expected to be in Jaipur till around May 2, when the results are scheduled to be declared. The Congress party was bearing the expenses of their stay in Jaipur.

Informing that the AIUDF candidates were worried about rising cases of Covid, sources in the party said that some of them expressed fear that if they catch Covid, it would be highly challenging for them to be part of the counting of votes in their respective constituency. “Some of them were of the view that their presence on the ground was necessary for the selection of counting agents and other representatives at each and every counting tables,” said a functionary of the party while informing that the candidates visited Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot at his residence in Jaipur before proceeding to the airport.

The AIUDF general secretary Aminul Islam, a candidate from the Mankachar constituency had earlier said, “We have taken some time off. Of course, the risk of horsetrading in Assam is high.”

Congress chief whip in Rajasthan Mahesh Joshi and party legislator Rafeek Khan were given the responsibility to ensure that the Assam Assembly election contestants are not approached by unknown persons during their stay in the five-star hotel in Rajasthan.

The AIUDF candidates who were shifted to Jaipur included Samsul Huda, Hafiz Bashir Ahmed, Minakshi Rahman, Nijanur Rahman, Phanidhar Talukdar, Rajib Ahmed, Aminul Islam, Hafiz Rafiqul Islam, Suzam Uddin Laskar, Nizamuddin Choudhury, Nazrul Hoque, Aminul Islam, Ashraful Hussain and Karim Uddin Barbhuiya.