Electoral prospects of the Congress in Assam suffers a severe jolt as several minority organizations floated a new political party. Though the new minority forum called United Democratic Front (UDF) at present is taking about taking on  the present set of political parties   in the State, Congress will feel the heat most.

Traditionally the minority communities in Assam are the supporters of the Congress and the party leaves to stone unturned to translate the support in to votes. But for quite some time now, the minorities expressed their grievances over the functioning of Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government in the State. Earlier, influential minority organisation Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind gave a six-month deadline to the State Government to deliver the goods and the new party was floated just at the expiry of the deadline.

Though Muslim organizations dominate the UDF, to give it a broad spectrum, the new political party is planning to include members from among the tribal, tea tribes, the Bengali-speaking people, Scheduled Castes, etc. Organisations present during the launching ceremony were the United Minorities Front (UMF), the Milli Council, the All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU), Jamiat Islami and several other bodies. UDF will take up the issues concerning the people of Assam at the state as well as the Central level. The UDF will soon constitute a political advisory committee and a constitution framing committee to give the party a concrete shape.

The leaders of the new party did not try to hide their dissatisfaction over the performance of the Tarun Gogoi Government. Speakers at the meet lambasted the Congress Government. President of newly formed political party newly Badruddin Ajmal alleged that the Congress had betrayed the trust of the minorities by not fulfilling the promises made before the last elections. He revealed that the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind had backed the Congress during the polls. “This government was installed by us – the Jamiat. But it did not do anything for the minorities. We gave the State Government six months to fulfill the promises made. We have begged for too long. This time we will not beg. We will field our own candidates and see that the maximum number of people go on to represent us in the Assembly,” Badruddin Ajmal said.

Terming the formation of the UDF as a historic occasion UDF president promised to do everything to see that the expectations of the minority communities are met. “Our goal is to realise your dreams.” He said that the party’s main issue would be the deprivation faced by the minority people over the decades. “Whenever we raised a demand they dubbed us as communal,” he complained. Urging his supporters to start work for     the next polls right away, Ajmal requested them to contribute to    the party funds as well. “During   the past elections the big parties distributed money and won votes. Don’t sell your votes this time,” he appealed.

In a damage control exercise after the formation of UDF, Congress has expressed the desire to enter in to a seat sharing arrangement with the new political party. It shows how desperate the Congress is to retain its minority vote bank intact.

|  Headlines  |  Editorial   | From Other Publications  |
|  Travel Column   |   News Briefs  |
| OT Main Page | Nena  Home Page  |