Congress is BJP's B-team, not AIUDF, says Assam's Ajmal in sharp riposte
Synopsis
AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal has flipped the 'B-team' allegation back on the Congress, claiming the opposition party has itself produced evidence of who truly aids the BJP in Assam. The charge and counter-charge deepen a rift that could torpedo any united opposition strategy ahead of the next assembly elections.
Key Takeaways
AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal on 12 November 2026 rejected claims his party is the BJP 's 'B-team', redirecting the allegation at the Congress .
Ajmal said the AIUDF has never been an ally of either the BJP or the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) .
He alleged the Congress itself has provided proof of which forces work in the ruling party's favour, without naming specifics.
The Congress has long accused the AIUDF of splitting opposition votes in minority-dominated constituencies, indirectly benefiting the BJP .
The escalating war of words between the two parties threatens opposition consolidation ahead of future Assam assembly elections.
All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) president and Assam MLA Badruddin Ajmal on Thursday, 12 November 2026, firmly rejected allegations that his party functions as a 'B-team' of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), turning the charge squarely on the Indian National Congress. Speaking to reporters in Guwahati, Ajmal claimed the Congress had itself provided proof of which political forces were actually working in the ruling party's favour.
Ajmal's Direct Rebuttal
Ajmal stated that the AIUDF had never been an ally or auxiliary of either the BJP or the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), and expressed confidence that his party's supporters would see through what he described as deliberate political misdirection. 'The BJP has its A-team, B-team and several other teams. The Congress may believe whatever it wants and try to explain its position in any manner. But our people understand the reality,' he said.
He went further, asserting that the Congress was attempting to sow confusion among voters by repeatedly branding the AIUDF as the BJP's proxy. 'We will do what is right. Our people will not be confused. We have never been the B-team of the AGP or the BJP. The Congress itself has provided proof about who is actually working as the BJP's B-team,' Ajmal said, without elaborating on the specifics of the evidence he was referencing.
The Congress Allegation and Its Background
The Congress has repeatedly accused the AIUDF of indirectly benefiting the BJP by splitting opposition votes — particularly in minority-dominated constituencies across Assam. The charge is a recurring fixture in the state's political discourse and has intensified as parties begin positioning themselves for future assembly contests.
This is not the first time Ajmal has faced the 'B-team' allegation. The AIUDF has consistently rejected it, accusing the Congress of deploying the narrative to deflect attention from its own declining electoral performance in the state. Notably, the Congress's footprint in Assam has contracted significantly since the BJP's rise to power under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
AIUDF's Stated Position
Ajmal maintained that his party remained committed to its independent political stance and would not be pressured into aligning itself with any other force through the threat of such labels. He added that the people of Assam would ultimately judge who had genuinely served their interests and who was engaged in political rhetoric.
This comes amid broader debate in Assam over opposition unity, with smaller and regional parties caught between pressure to consolidate against the BJP and their own organisational interests in contesting separately.
What This Signals for Assam Politics
The sharpening war of words between the Congress and the AIUDF complicates any prospects of a cohesive opposition front in Assam. Critics argue that mutual accusations between the two parties effectively hand an advantage to the ruling BJP, regardless of which side's narrative is accurate. How the AIUDF and Congress manage their relationship in the run-up to elections is likely to be a defining factor in the state's political landscape in the months ahead.
Point of View
It benefits the BJP more than either party hurling it. Ajmal's counter-claim, delivered without supporting evidence, is tactically sound as a headline move but strategically hollow: it deepens the Congress-AIUDF fracture that has historically cost the opposition crucial seats. The Congress, meanwhile, is attempting to consolidate the anti-BJP vote by delegitimising the AIUDF's independent credibility — a strategy that risks further alienating a constituency it cannot afford to lose. What mainstream coverage underplays is that this feud has a structural logic: the two parties compete for overlapping voter bases in minority-concentrated seats, making genuine alliance permanently uncomfortable for both. Until one side concedes electoral ground, the cycle will continue — and the BJP will keep benefiting from it.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal say about the BJP 'B-team' allegation?
Badruddin Ajmal firmly rejected the allegation that the AIUDF functions as the BJP's 'B-team', instead claiming that the Congress had itself produced evidence pointing to which party truly works in the BJP's favour. He made the remarks to reporters in Guwahati on 12 November 2026.
Why does the Congress call the AIUDF the BJP's B-team?
The Congress argues that the AIUDF splits opposition votes — especially in minority-dominated constituencies in Assam — thereby indirectly helping the BJP win seats it might otherwise lose. The allegation has been a recurring feature of Congress-AIUDF political exchanges.
What is the AIUDF's position in Assam politics?
The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), led by Badruddin Ajmal, is a regional party with a significant base among minority communities in Assam. It has consistently maintained it operates independently of both the BJP and Congress, rejecting any suggestion of a proxy relationship with the ruling party.
How does this dispute affect opposition unity in Assam?
The public feud between the Congress and the AIUDF complicates efforts to build a unified opposition front against the BJP in Assam. Analysts have noted that mutual accusations between the two parties can deepen voter confusion and weaken the combined opposition's electoral arithmetic.
What did Ajmal say about the evidence he referred to?
Ajmal claimed the Congress had provided proof that another political force, not the AIUDF, was working as the BJP's B-team, but he did not elaborate on what that evidence was or identify the party he was alluding to.
