Will Badruddin Ajmal decide the fate of Silchar Lok Sabha seat?
Part–I
SILCHAR, August 31: Is AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal going to be a factor in deciding the fate of Silchar Lok Sabha seat in 2014 polls? This question is of great significance, considered against the backdrop of growing influence of AIUDF in the State politics of Assam. Though elections are still months away, calculation and speculation for this prestigious seat has become a topic of general interest. Badruddin Ajmal, in the meantime, has come out with the statement that his party will win 10 of the 14 Parliamentary seats in the State. Obviously, Silchar is also his target.
It therefore calls for a closer analysis and examination of the factors that might favour AIUDF which has emerged as the second largest opposition party in the State with 18 Assembly and 2 Parliamentary seats in its bag. All the seats have been won at the cost of Congress in the minority dominated constituencies. It is an indication that the traditional vote–bank of Indian National Congress is eroding. This has become more pronounced after the Bodoland Territorial Administrative District (BTAD) violence in which the Muslims have suffered most despite Tarun Gogoi, Chief Minister, being in charge of Home Department as well. Badruddin Ajmal who stood by the victims of violence in their distress is looked upon as their “messiah.”
No one can deny the charisma, the religiosity, the dynamism, the grit, the determination and above all the magnanimity of Badruddin Ajmal. His million dollar global perfume business with enormous wealth is more for charity and welfare activities. The scion of a family that runs the Ajmal Group with stakes in real estate, education, research and development as well. It is for these reasons that he has become most popular among the minorities. He makes his presence felt for his humanitarian and philanthropical works, besides politics.
The weekly magazine Outlook in its issue dated August 19 has found enough reasons to put him in the list of 20 most influential Indians on the basis of online and phone call votes in which 6,05,660 people from 14 big cities of the country participated. In Assam, he remains on the top, the magazine survey says. That also gives him the “pride of place” to be the most influential politician of the State.
Badruddin Ajmal did demonstrate his influence in the electoral battles. His party made significant gains by winning 10 seats in the first ever contest in 2006 assembly elections which went up to 18 in 2011. Relevant to say, in the 126 member Assembly, the party contested 71 seats in 2006 and 74 seats in 2011. Also significant to note, AIUDF’s share of votes has risen from 9.03 per cent to 12 per cent.
Besides, in the panchayat polls, party’s tally of winning 40 Zilla Parishads in 2007 increased to 70 in 2013. Apart from this, Badruddin Ajmal also demonstrated his influence in the Lok Sabha elections of 2009 on Silchar seat. He won from Dhubri by a record vote of 3 lakh margin, but showed his ability to spoil the Congress chance. Sontosh Mohan Dev, the heavyweight Congress candidate and a Central Minister, was defeated. The victory of Kabindra Purkayastha of BJP was attributed to Ajmal factor. Shiv Sena leader of this valley, Dibakar Bhattacharjee, and an advocate, said “We supported Ajmal to ensure the defeat of Dev. We want Ajmal this time also.” But, like ‘once bitten, twice shy’, AIUDF leaders will not like to repeat the mistakes of 2009. Ataur Rahman Majharbhuiya, MLA and general secretary of the party, has advised leaders and workers to go all hog for strengthening the organizational base from the booth level across the 7 constituencies of the district. He himself has undertaken the exercise to hold meetings with them in order to inspire and galvanize them for the battle ahead.
Source: The Sentinel 01.09.2013
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