Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is into his third term. In that sense he can be called the grand old man of the Congress. This, he feels gives him the right to ride roughshod over his party colleagues and to take arbitrary statements without the concurrence of his party colleagues. The most recent statement that the Congress in Assam will build alliances with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), a political party known for its sectarian values has created quite a furore within the Assam Congress and also with allies like the Bodo Peoples’ Front (BPF). Gogoi took this position after the AIUDF won 62 seats out of the 365 seats for the panchayat polls the results of which were declared recently. Out of the 424 zila parishads, polling was conducted in 405 and results were declared for 369 on February 16. Out of this Congress bagged 251 seats, AIUDF 62, AGP 26, BJP 11 and others managed 19. The AIUDF is led by the perfume baron Badhruddin Ajmal a known Congress baiter and a leader of the Muslims in Assam. This alliance if it happens is fraught with serious political outcomes for Assam. Ajmal has been seen by many as giving overt protection to the Bengali speaking Muslim population which is commonly referred to as the illegal migrant. In fact the AIUDF is a political party with a clear religious identity.
Naturally Gogoi’s announcements have raised the hackles of the BPF and others who see the AIUDF defeating the very idea of tackling illegal immigration in Assam. The AIUDF is alleged to have been behind the ruckus created in Mumbai after the Kokrajhar violence in July-August last year which resulted in the exodus of North Easterners working and studying in different parts of the country. The BPF had partnered with the Congress in the last government which lasted its full term. This time the Congress succeeded in getting an absolute majority but it kept the BPF happy by giving one ministerial berth to a BPF MLA. The Congress’s partnership with AIUDF is set to change the political contours of Assam further. The political journey forward appears tumultuous.
It is unfortunate that Tarun Gogoi who is poised to be a wise elder in Indian politics is not playing his role the way he ought to. Perhaps senility and age have something to do with the show of bravado. This also lends credence to the allegations that Congress is for political reasons, ready to appease all religious groups and to be all things to all people – left, right and centre. The most dangerous politics to play is vote bank politics because it trumps all reason.