Ajmal
AIUDF chief Badaruddin Ajmal. File image - Northeast Now

All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal on Wednesday said the party had started its campaign for panchayat election across Assam without trying to ‘occupy media space’ unlike the other political parties.

“We need not to occupy media space to perform well in the panchayat election. People already understood the nature of BJP and AGP. It would be tough time for both BJP and AGP in the panchayat election,” Ajmal told Northeast Now over phone.

Ajmal said the indigenous people of the State were hurt by the BJP’s move to bring in Hindu Bangladeshis by implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 which would jeopardize the identity of the indigenous people on their own land.

“Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 and BJP’s betrayal on the bill are the main issues AIUDF has focussed on this time,” Ajmal said.

Moreover, slamming at the BJP-led Central Government over the statement that it would create two crore jobs for the unemployed educated youths, Ajmal said, ‘BJP has failed to fulfil its promises made before 2014 Lok Sabha poll. So, unemployment problem in the State is another issue of AIUDF’s agenda.’

Lashing out at the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) over their campaign in minority areas of the state, he said the AGP had no right to campaign in those areas as they betrayed the whole Assamese community on the bill issue.

“People had expectations on AGP. But the party could not fulfil the expectation and it would face consequences in all the upcoming elections,” Ajmal said.

Talking about ticket-centric dissatisfaction among the party workers of BJP, AGP and Congress, Ajmal said, “There is no dissatisfaction over ticket distribution among the party workers in AIUDF. All are happy with the party’s decision.”

Ajmal is confident of impressive performance in the panchayat election slated to be held on December 5 and 9 in two phases.

It may be mentioned that AIUDF was the second highest party in the 2013 state panchayat election with 72 ZPC members while the then ruling party Congress had swept the election with majority.

Mukut Das is Northeast Now Trainee Copy Editor. He can be reached at: [email protected]