A Correspondent
DHUBRI: The first nomination from 4-Dhubri Lok Sabha seat was filed by Dhubri sitting MP Badruddin Ajmal on Thursday. AIUDF supremo Ajmal joined a large number of supporters and followers who had gathered at Dhubri Raja Prabha Chandra Barua Maidan and moved to the Dhubri Deputy Commissioner’s office, and submitted his nomination papers to Dhubri Deputy Commissioner-cum-Returning Officer, Anant Lal Gyani.
Ajmal first stepped into politics in Assam by forming United Democratic Front (UDF) in 1996 which was later changed to All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). He contested from South Salmara assembly constituency of Dhubri district in 2006 and defeated Congress heavyweight and former Minister Wazed Ali Choudhury by a huge margin of votes.
But after three years, Ajmal contested from Dhubri Lok Sabha seat in 2009 and 2014 and on both the occasions, he won by a thumping margin of votes by defeating Congress candidates. This time around, according to political observers, Congress-AIUDF have a tacit and veiled understanding on seat sharing and if it materializes then Congress is likely to field weak candidates in Dhubri and Barpeta Lok Sabha seats as AIUDF has sitting MPs in both constituencies in lower Assam.
However, there is a long list of aspirants of tickets from the Congress, prominent among them being former minister Wazed Ali Choudhury, former MP Abdul Hamid, former legislator Abu Taher Bepari and Gul Akhtara Begum. Aspirants are leaving no stone unturned to convince the Congress high command that since in the recent panchayat election it gained strength over the AIUDF, leaving this seat tacitly for the AIUDF will be a suicidal move for the Congress as party workers will get demoralized, a source in Dhubri Congress said. On the other hand, with re-alliance between BJP and AGP, BJP might leave Dhubri and Barpeta seats in lower Assam to AGP and AGP is likely to field former legislator from Mancachar, Javed Islam from Dhubri Lok Sabha seat this time, a source in Dhubri AGP said.
Also read: Assam news