Badruddin Ajmal’s party eyes Rajya Sabha seat of Manmohan Singh

GUWAHATI: As the wait for the Lok Sabha poll results finally ends, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) is preparing for the next big race. Two of the seven Rajya Sabha seats from Assam — represented by former PM Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Santiuse Kujur — will fall vacant in June. Party chief Badruddin Ajmal may be gunning for these seats, with help from Congress.
“We have, in the past, supported Congress candidates Ripun Bora and Rani Narah, who were elected in 2016. We had also extended support to AGP’s candidates in 2007. We believe in forming a secular force to spearhead Assam’s cause in Parliament. We are looking forward to their support this time,” a senior AIUDF leader, who did not want to be named, said.
AIUDF general secretary Haidar Hussain Bora played things down. “The party is yet to take an official decision. We are exploring all options,” he said, adding, “A lot depends on how Congress responds to our appeal for support. We had supported Congress in Rajya Sabha polls as well as the presidential polls. We would like to see it reciprocate.” When it comes to AIUDF, every party has tried to score political points by associating its rival with the minority-dominated party.