AIUDF to contest 60 seats in Assam assembly polls, leave 66 seats for “secular and like minded parties”

GUWAHATI: What is expected to benefit ruling congress, largest opposition party in Assam All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) announced that it will contest 60 out of 126 assembly seats in the assembly polls slated for spring this year while leaving 66 seats for secular and like minded parties to contest and defeat BJP.

AIUDF has hinted that it did not want to field candidate against congress and other anti BJP parties.

AIUDF general secretary Aminul Islam on Saturday said, “ It is a strategic move as we do not want to spoil the poll prospects of secular parties. We are limiting ourselves to 60 seats.”

He added, “We have done elaborate scanning of wining prospects in the constituencies and will soon publish the list of candidates.”

All-India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) leader Maulana Badruddin Ajmal was keen to have Bihar type Grand alliance or Mahagatbandan for 2016 assembly with congress however congress decided to contest the polls on its own.

AIUDF formed in 2006 is improving its tally with each election. It has eaten up up the Muslim support base of congress.

AIUDF clinched 10 seats in 2006 assembly polls. In 2011 assembly polls AIUDF got 18 seats and emerged as the largest opposition party in the State Legislative Assembly. AIUDF has increased its tally from one seat of 2009 to 3 in 2014 Lok sabha polls.