Anti-BJP forces must band together to fight polls: Debabrata Saikia on Congress-AIUDF alliance

Guwahati: Amid murmurs of an alliance between the Congress and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) parties for the crucial polls in Assam, Congress leader Debabrata Saikia has asserted that there is a need for anti-BJP forces to band together to oust the saffron party from power.

Talking to The Sentinel Digital, Saikia said that political forces that feel that the BJP is in no way "friendly" to the interests of Assam must join together to defeat the saffron brigade at the polling booth. "Look, it has become crystal clear that all the parties and forces that feel the BJP stands against the interests of Assam must join forces to ensure that the saffron party does not get another term here."

Debabrata Saikia also asserted that the Congress has been opposing the BJP party's "ideals" and its "philosophy" for a long time, and it makes perfect sense for the party to rally all the anti-BJP forces together during the elections. "You cannot take the Congress lightly", he said, expressing optimism.

Speaking on the issue of dissent within the Congress ranks over its alliance with the AIUDF, which allegedly stands for the interests of Bengali-speaking Muslims, Saikia said that matters can be resolved via discussions and deliberations. "It is still early days to see what position the party leaders take during the polls. There is always the scope for discussions to ensure that all like-minded forces unite together to fight against the common enemy."

The senior Congressman also asserted that by bringing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the BJP party has violated the very spirit of the historic Assam Assam Accord, signed at the end of a long and arduous struggle.

"By its very nature, the CAA is antithetical to the interests of the Assamese people, as it seeks to overthrow the Assam Accord. However, the BJP party has already imposed the CAA. This is why the BJP must be defeated and the Clauses of the Accord must be implemented."

The Leader of the Opposition further admitted that a resolution to unite all the anti-BJP forces has already been taken by the Grand Old Party's leadership as it seeks to bolster itself with the support of allies before taking on the BJP's might.

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