Assam Badruddin Ajmal beef
AIUDF chief and Lok Sabha MP Badruddin Ajmal.

Two days ahead of the third phase of the Assam Assembly election, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal on Saturday once again said that the party would support a Congress chief minister in Assam.

AIUDF is a part of the Congress-led Mahajoth or grand alliance in Assam.

“AIUDF is committed to supporting a Congress CM in the state after 2 May (sic). Congress Mahajot govt, an alliance of Ten parties, will work equally for all regions & communities of Assam without fear or favour,” Ajmal said in a tweet.

This is for the first time Ajmal, who had been campaigning for the Congress both on-field and on social media platforms, openly declared of supporting the Congress’s manifesto of the five guarantees.

The guarantees are to pass an ordinance preventing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act from being implemented in Assam, create 5 lakh government jobs, increase tea workers’ wages to Rs 365, provide free electricity up to 200 units per household and impart Rs 2,000 monthly income support to all housewives if voted to power.

Ajmal had earlier vouched for his support for a Congress Chief Minister as well after the completion of the first phase of Assam elections on March 27.

As the Congress – the main opposition in Assam elections – hasn’t announced a Chief Ministerial candidate yet, Ajmal’s declaration puts rest to a lot of speculation – and some allegations – regarding him to be the next chief minister if the Mahajoth wins the elections.

The Mahajoth, besides AIUDF, a one-time Congress’s arch-rival, also includes Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), a former BJP ally, four Left parties, the regional Ancholik Gana Parishad and Rashtriya Janata Dal.