By Munize Ali,
Guwahati: Till the election results were out, Ajmal was projected as the kingmaker in Assam. AIUDF whose major poll plank was anti-Congress slogans, suddenly tuned into different rhythms and was working out for participation in the government along with Congress. AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front) even removed its thorns within its party by eliminating its working president Hafiz Rashid. Ajmal was constantly in touch with both Congress and AGP leaders for alliance formation. But election results shattered all dreams and the kingmaker is now stepping into the role of opposition party in the state. Though AIUDF didn’t find a hot seat of the kingmaker but its performance is charismatic. It has almost doubled its tally compared to its 2006 debut election. The party got 18 seats while it won 10 seats in 2006.
Reasons behind the rise of AIUDF
The increase in AIUDF’s tally has been observed through different lenses quite discomforting for the people belonging to minority community. Major commentators attributed the win to the support from the so called ‘people who changed the demography’ in the state. Some also termed it as the result of the failure of party like AGP who promised to fight the cause of Assamese identity by deporting all illegal migrants in the state.
Congress traditionally projected itself as a friend of minorities. But, as observed, Congress proved unfriendly towards the major issues that haunt the minority community in Assam like displacement due to river erosion and ethnic conflicts, D-voters, illegal migration, implementation of Sachar Committee report and other similar reports, implementation of PM’s 15 point programme.
In last ten years of Congress rule in the state, these issues have been neglected and that in turn have put AIUDF in an advantage position. It is wrong to say that AIUDF’s win is due to AGP’s failure or due to erosion in Congress minority vote bank, but it is due to a feeling of deprivation and fear psychosis among the minorities created by the other political parties and groups and this pushed AIUDF in an advantage stage.
Why people voted for AIUDF? Intellectuals feel that minority community was looking for an alternative. Hafiz Ahmed of Char Chapari Sahitya Parishad said, ‘minority community has tasted Congress for last ten years. In last ten years of regime Congress failed to give adequate compensation to the people displaced in Bodo dominated areas, there is no survey on the people affected by river erosion, no proper compensation or rehabilitation, D-voters issues is becoming complicated day by day without any solution in sight. All these factors made people to look for alternative o Congress in minority areas and hence AIUDF rised, he opined.
Abdul Mannan, an academician from Gauhati University is of the same opinion. He said, ‘injustice committed by Congress on minority community is responsible for the success of AIUDF. There is no other factor. AIUDF’s future success will be proportional to the injustice committed by Congress on minority community in the state’.
Common businessman Nur Ali is of the opinion that prediction of a hung assembly helped AIUDF. “People were not sure that Congress will get such an absolute majority. Hence they look for an alternative and voted AIUDF’.
Constant media report about the possibility of formation of an AGP-BJP government impacted the gain to AIUDF, said Saidur Rahman, a politician from Mankachar. He is of the opinion that ‘constant reference for the promotion and protection of the welfare and rights of indigenous population threatened the minority community and they found AIUDF comforting and hence voted for them’.
Media too extensively reported that AIUDF’s success is due to the support from ‘people who changed the demography’ of the state. Aminul Islam, AIUDF youth president answered this question in this way. He said ‘previously Congress won from certain seats where AIUDF has won this time. All these years no one commented that Congress is winning due to the support from the ‘people who changed the demography’ of the state. This is because of the indoctrinated biased against the certain group based on religion and language’.
Challenge ahead
With both Congress as the government and AIUDF as the opposition, the days are going to be challenging for both the parties in future as far as the minority issues are concerned. Ajmal has already exhibited his commitment in addressing the issues that affects minority community in the state. He presented a memorandum to Tarun Gogoi on May 15, 2010 demanding proper attention for the issue of D-voter in the state. Ajmal also raised a crucial issue that is harassment of genuine Indian citizen in the name of detection of foreigners. He revealed in a press meet yesterday in Guwahati that his organization has received information using right to information Act and found that there are 17612 cases pending and 55 cases have detected as foreigners. Ajmal also informed of initiating a PIL challenging the D-voter status.
Most of the issues of minority in Assam are socio-economic and cultural in nature. A very deep understanding and analysis is required to understand the community and proceed accordingly. If AIUDF could prove its true commitments then it can be rightly pointed out that next election will be rewarding. AIUDF should stick to its commitment and play the role of a good opposition. On the other hand, Congress needs to be more cautious in the matters of minority issues and need to take appropriate measures as a responsible government.