Ajmal seeking minority votes in the me of Congress'

No pre-poll tie-up with AIUDF, says APCC chief

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Jan 16: Refuting AIUDF chief Badaruddin Ajmal’s claim that seat sharing with the Congress has been almost filised, APCC president Anjan Dutta on Saturday said that the AIUDF supremo is spreading cards to mislead the people.

Ruling out any pre-poll alliance with the AIUDF, Dutta said, “Badaruddin Ajmal is now fearful and has resorted to misleading the minority people. He is now seeking votes in the me of the Congress as he know that the minority people have decided to stand by the Congress. He is misleading them. We have been maintaining that there will be no alliance with the AIUDF and we stand by it. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have also informed the APCC that there will be no alliance with the AIUDF.”

He further said, “The AICC has made it clear that it is the Pradesh Congress and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who will take a fil call on alliance. The AICC will not impose it upon us.”

When asked about the chances of post-poll alliance with the AIUDF, the APCC president said, “We can’t comment on it now. There will be no pre-poll alliance, that’s clear. Regarding post-poll alliance, if we witness any change in their political ideology, we will think over it.”

When asked about an alliance with the AGP, Dutta said that both the parties are in talks.

Making it clear that all the sitting Congress MLAs will get party candidature, Dutta said that the Congress will contest in all 126 assembly segments. “Sitting MLAs are getting tickets. In other seats which are now in the hands of opposition parties, we will give candidature after due consultation with booth level workers and the MPs concerned. Those working in booth level and are actively involved in micro-booth magement will get first preference. All our MLAs are now working at block levels,” Dutta said.

Stating that three senior party leaders have opted not to contest the election this time, Dutta said that they have proposed the mes of the most deserving candidates in their constituencies which the APCC will look into and allot party candidature.