Akhil Gogoi: BJP's Alleged Dependence on AIUDF as Political Strategy in Assam
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Guwahati, March 6 (NationPress) Raijor Dal's Akhil Gogoi has charged that the BJP is leveraging the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) as its “political oxygen” in Assam, asserting that the ruling party relies on this regional entity to maintain its political narrative in the lead-up to elections.
During a press conference with opposition parties focused on unity and electoral strategies, Gogoi argued that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma frequently references the AIUDF to polarise the electorate.
“The Chief Minister cannot engage in politics without relying on the AIUDF’s oxygen. Ajmal and the AIUDF are acting as appointed agents for the BJP,” Gogoi claimed, also critiquing the BJP's ongoing ‘Jana Ashirwad Yatra’ in the state.
He accused the BJP of attempting to distract from governance issues by stirring up communal sentiments and targeting opposition groups.
Gogoi urged for greater unity among Assam's opposition parties to effectively challenge the ruling BJP in the upcoming elections.
This statement arises amidst a heated exchange between Raijor Dal leaders and Chief Minister Sarma regarding the AIUDF's influence in Assam's political landscape.
Earlier this week, Sarma claimed that the Congress party’s electoral game plan is centered around constituencies primarily populated by what he termed “Bangladeshi-origin Muslims”, suggesting that the opposition alliance is aligning its strategies around such demographics.
Consistently, the Chief Minister has lambasted both the Congress and the AIUDF, accusing them of engaging in “vote-bank politics” within the state.
In response to these allegations, Gogoi contended that the BJP government is working to polarise society and fabricate political narratives that focus on identity and communal divisions rather than prioritizing developmental issues.
He further accused the ruling party of strategically raising the AIUDF issue during election times to consolidate voter support.
The intensifying dialogue between Sarma and Gogoi underscores the growing political rivalry in Assam as parties position themselves for the next electoral showdown in the state.