By Syed Zarir Hussain, IANS,
Guwahati : Perfume baron and Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) leader Badruddin Ajmal is not as rich as was generally believed, but the cleric sure fancies swanky cars and gold jewellery, if one goes by his declaration.
Ajmal declared in his affidavit accompanying his nomination papers for the Silchar parliamentary seat in Assam Tuesday that he has Rs.197,777 cash in hand and his wife Rizwana has Rs.567,329 – both together having little more than Rs.750,000 cash in hand.
But the maulana from the Deoband Islamic seminary in Uttar Pradesh, who sports a flowing beard and skullcap, also has a penchant for driving swanky cars. He claims to have two cars worth about Rs.4.6 million.
Another interesting characteristic: his love for gold and gold jewellery – which seems to be more than what his wife owns.
According to the affidavit, Ajmal declared that he possesses gold worth Rs.322,000, while his wife’s gold jewellery is estimated at Rs.224,000.
“I don’t believe in money power in elections�all I want is the goodwill and support of people, and of course prayers and blessings from everybody to help me win,” Ajmal told IANS.
Ajmal is contesting from two constituencies – Silchar in south Assam and Dhubri in the west.
Of the total eight seats where the AUDF is contesting this time, his younger brother Sirajuddin Ajmal is also contesting from two – Nagaon and Kaliabor.
Questions are, therefore, being asked if Ajmal is encouraging dynastic politics.
“We are considering the winning chances of the candidates while giving party tickets for the elections�there is nothing to suggest family politics in it,” said Hafiz Rashid Choudhury, working president of the AUDF.
Both brothers are legislators in the Assam assembly after the senior Ajmal floated the AUDF six months before the 2006 state elections in Assam.
But for all those supporters hoping to see Ajmal doling out cash lavishly during the elections, the Maulana’s cash position must have surely come as a shocker.