By Najam Gilani, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: The Congress party on Sunday decided not to have any alliance with the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) held its executive meeting on 18th January to discuss the poll strategy in the state and decided not to have any alliance or seat adjustment with AUDF in coming general elections. Giving details of the meeting to TwoCircles.net, APCC spokesperson Mr Mehdi Alam Bora said: “as of now Congress party is having no poll alliance or any kind of seat adjustment with the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) in the coming Lok Sabha polls.”
The Congress, however, has not ruled out any future alliance with AUDF. Congress spokesperson said the Sunday decision “in no way means that there will be no alliance in future as well.” It was also decided in the meeting that overall development of the State will be the main poll agenda, he added.
The meeting was attended by senior Congress leaders Veerappa Moily, Santosh Mohan Dev, and Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi, besides a few other ministers.
However, it is felt that there is a growing difference within the Congress party on the issue of having an alliance with AUDF. According to sources Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi doesn’t want to forge any electoral alliance with AUDF because he is of the opinion that newly born party doesn’t have too strong presence among the Muslims and since not all the Muslims vote for Congress, they will vote for other parties, which includes AUDF as well. But some in the party have different view. However, in the present context, it was resolved in the meeting to keep a safe distance from the party.