Third front likely in State for LS polls NEW DELHI, Jan 4 – With Congress and AGP-BJP combine already in the fray, the battle for Assam’s 14 Lok Sabha seats is likely to be triangular as a third front comprising CPI, CPI(M), NCP, Samajwadi Party and AUDF is all set to come up in the state. “Talks with CPI, CPI(M), NCP and SP for an electoral alliance are in final stage. The alliance will provide third alternative to the people of Assam,” Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) president Badruddin Azmal told PTI. The AUDF, a Muslim-dominated party, has 10 MLAs in Assam’s 126-member Assembly.
The alliance is likely to field candidates in all 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state jointly and expected to give a tough fight to Congress and newly formed combine of AGP-BJP.
If the alliance comes up, the CPI(M) and SP would join hands together in a state for the first time after the July 22 Lok Sabha trust vote when they parted ways on the Indo-US nuclear deal.
“CPI(M) and SP coming together will not be a problem as there are instances, including Meghalaya and Nagaland, of rival parties at the Centre joining hands together. Besides, CPI(M) and SP are old friends,” Azmal said.
Azmal, a perfume baron, said the AUDF was looking for Assam’s principal opposition party AGP to take the lead in forging a united front against both the Congress and the BJP. “Since the AGP forged an alliance with the BJP, we have no alternative but to take our own initiative,” he said.
Asked whether there was any possibility of AUDF joining hands with ruling Congress, Azmal said such a possibility does not arise at all as the Congress has allegedly failed to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the common people of Assam.
However, sources said, some Congress leaders want the AUDF to have an alliance with the Congress to prevent a split in the sizeable Muslim voters. – PTI
