All-India United Democratic Front president Badruddin Ajmal, who had a closed door meeting with former chief minister and AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, announced that ideology was not at all any hindrance for the party in joining a government with the AGP.
Clarifying that the AIUDF also wants to implement the Assam Accord, solve the foreigners issue and update the National Register of Citizenship in the same spirit as the AGP wants, Mr Ajmal said that they are going to meet other AGP leaders on May 10 to discuss the issue of forming a non-Congress government in the state.
Admitting that he discussed the prevailing political scenario of the state with Mr Mahanta at latter’s residence on Saturday, Mr Ajmal, however, clarified, “My visit was completely personal. Mr Mahanta is my old friend so I visited him on Saturday.” Mr Ajmal also denied media reports claiming to have indicated his willingness to join an alliance with the ruling Congress Party.
“I have not met any Congress leader and discussed the possibility of alliance. We are not compromise with our ideology and stand in order to join a government,” said Mr Ajmal, in an obvious reference to Assam CM Tarun Gogoi’s claim that the AIUDF was in touch with AICC leaders. Mr Mahanta told this newspaper that the AIUDF has reaffirmed their support to the AGP on issues relating implementation of the Assam Accord, upgradation of the National Registrar of Citizens (NRC) and border fencing, among other issues. Mr Mahanta asserted that the AIUDF would extend support in formation of the AGP-led government in the state and both formal and informal talks were on regarding the issue.
Meanwhile, the AIUDF has entrusted its president Badruddin Ajmal with the responsibility of taking a final decision on entering into alliances with political parties in the state.
The decision was taken at the executive committee meeting of the party held in Guwahati on Saturday. As such, it will now be the sole prerogative of the AIUDF president to decide as to with which party or combinations will it go.