By Munize Ali, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: Just two weeks before the Assembly poll, the All India United Democratic Front of MP Maulana Badruddin Ajmal received a big shot in the arm on Saturday (19th March) when former chief minister of Assam and Congress veteran Anowara Taimur quit the party and joined AIUDF.
Though reportedly she quit Congress on being denied ticket, she has announced she will not contest election but will actively take part in election campaign for the AIUDF. Assam will vote for new Assembly in two phases — April 4 & 11.
Anowara Taimur was the chief minister of Assam from December 6, 1980 to June 30, 1981. Her term as chief minister ended when the state was put under president’s rule for six months. In the history of Assam, she is the only female Chief Minister of the state. And she is the only Muslim chief minister of the state after Independence.
Since 1937, Assam has seen 19 CMs (before Independence they were called Premier). Before Independence, Maulavi Saiyid Sir Muhammad Saadulla was Premier of Assam for three terms (April 1, 1937 — September 19, 1938, November 17, 1939 — December 24, 1941, August 25, 1942–February 11, 1946).