Assam Congress yet to receive high command instructions for pre-poll alliance

GUWAHATI: All India Congress Committee (AICC) has so far not given any instructions to the state unit of the party to explore any possible alliance to fight the coming assembly election scheduled next year.
A Congress source said, “Whatever we are hearing about the alliance between Congress and AIUDF is without any approval of AICC. Few leaders may be talking with AIUDF on alliance but that are purely on their individual capacities and not in knowledge of AICC.”
“Any election alliance is formalized by AICC only. The practice is that AICC will first decide if at all an alliance is required and if yes a committee is set up to explore the possible partners. So far AICC has not taken any decision in regards to Assam,” the source added.
PCC president Ripun Bora said, “AIUDF has agreed to the alliance with us and has said that Congress is the big brother.” He added that a meeting between Congress and AIUDF representative was held on Saturday night at the official residence of former chief minister Tarun Gogoi.
AIUDF general secretary Aminul Islam, who attended the meeting said, “The alliance with Congress is certain. Congress is our big brother and they will decide on who will be the chief minister. The objective is to oust the anti-Assamese BJP government.”
Since the birth of AIUDF led by perfume baron Badruddin Ajmal in 2005, the two parties have never allied with each other in any election despite Ajmal’s willingness in the past. It was Gogoi who admits that he was always against an alliance with AIUDF until the two parties joined hands in March to put up a common candidate for election to one of the Rajya Sabha seats in the state.