Guwahati, Dec 18: AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal on Thursday sparked a major political row after alleging that senior Congress leaders receive money from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, claiming he has evidence to prove it.
Speaking to reporters, Ajmal said, “If AIUDF is the BJP’s B team, then the Congress is the BJP’s A-plus team. I have proof that senior Congress leaders go to Himanta Biswa Sarma to take money. I have this evidence.”
Ajmal also claimed that the Congress has no presence in Upper Assam and asserted that the party would not win more than 20 seats in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Reiterating his criticism, he asked, “If we are zero, then what are Akhil Gogoi and Lurinjyoti Gogoi?”
The AIUDF chief further stated that out of 17 political parties in the state, 15 have “no real existence” and added that the party will soon make its stand clear on whether its principal opponent in the election is the Congress or the BJP.
Ajmal listed multiple reasons for his opposition to the BJP, questioning the political relevance of the “Miya” issue. He also indicated that he may not contest the upcoming elections personally, but left the decision to party members.
Escalating his attack on the Chief Minister, Ajmal referred to alleged remarks made by Sarma regarding the Muslim community. “The Chief Minister talks about who Muslims should sleep with, but who does the Chief Minister himself sleep with, and who will say that?” he said, describing Sarma as “Hitler, Mussolini, and a tyrant,” and alleging that “there is no Chief Minister in the world as cruel as the present one.”
Ajmal again accused the Congress of failing to work in Upper Assam and claimed that if Rahul Gandhi promised to form the government and address minority concerns, he would dissolve the AIUDF.
He said driving the BJP out of Assam will be AIUDF’s primary election plank.
Ajmal also alleged that Congress leaders engage with parties lacking mass support and hold discussions in hotels. He accused the ruling side of vote manipulation and reaffirmed AIUDF’s opposition to “NRC-related irregularities.”
He added that AIUDF does not field candidates simply to divide votes and will contest only in seats where it has a genuine chance of victory.
