GUWAHATI: Differences within the Congress camp in Assam have apparently surfaced with a section of senior party functionaries opposing the proposal for forging a “direct” alliance with the Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and preferring a “grand alliance” with non-BJP parties instead to take on the ruling party in next year’s Assembly elections.
Party leaders, including some MLAs from Upper Assam, stayed away from a meeting held at former three-time chief minister Tarun Gogoi’s residence here on Saturday to discuss the proposed alliance of the grand old party with AIUDF.
Gogoi had hinted at a possible grand alliance comprising AIUDF and other non-BJP parties after the party’s core committee meeting here last Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters after attending the meeting here on Saturday, former Jorhat MLA and senior party leader, Rana Goswami said that a grand alliance with non-BJP parties, including Anchalik Gana Morcha led by newly elected Rajya Sabha MP, Ajit Kumar Bhuyan or with a party floated by the All Assam Students Union, was welcome but not a direct, “single party” alliance with AIUDF.
“In fact, I had raised my objection at the core committee meeting of the party recently and categorically opposed a direct alliance with AIUDF. However, if the party is a part of the grand alliance, then we have to know the stand of the other alliance partners and make our stand known later,” Goswami said.
Goswami along with senior party functionaries, including leader of the Opposition, Debabrata Saikia, Pradyut Bordoloi, Bhupen Borah and Abdul Khaleque, had reportedly held a separate meeting immediately after the core committee meeting earlier this week. The five leaders decided to send a formal request to the party high command, seeking change of leadership.
“We want to dethrone BJP from power for which we have to forge an alliance with like-minded parties in the polls next year,” he said.
Asked about some Congress leaders and members comfortable with a direct alliance with AIUDF, Goswami said that the thinking could be different in Upper Assam, Lower Assam and Barak Valley.
“But as a former MLA from Upper Assam and a conscious citizen, I would not prefer a direct alliance… my conscience does not permit such a move,” he said.
