Guwahati, March 6: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi has accused Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of seeking support from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in connection with the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Assam.
Gogoi alleged that the development exposes what he described as the “power-centric” nature of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He claimed that while the Chief Minister had for years criticised the AIUDF as a communal party, the ruling establishment was now relying on its legislators to secure a seat in the Upper House.
According to Gogoi, three AIUDF MLAs—Karim Uddin Barbhuiya, Nizamuddin Choudhury and Zakir Hussain Laskar—have signed the nomination papers of National Democratic Alliance candidate Pramod Boro, who is also the president of the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL).
The Congress leader criticised the Chief Minister for allegedly using polarising rhetoric against the minority community in the past, claiming that Sarma had frequently used terms such as “Miya” and “Osinaki” during political speeches. Gogoi further alleged that the state government had intensified social divisions through eviction drives and what he termed as “bulldozer politics.”
He argued that the BJP’s dependence on AIUDF legislators for support in the third Rajya Sabha seat contradicted its earlier stance against the party. Questioning the development, Gogoi asked why the ruling party would rely on AIUDF MLAs if it genuinely believed the party posed a threat to the state.
“The Chief Minister often speaks about ideology and principles, but the moment his power is threatened, those principles disappear,” Gogoi said, adding that safeguarding political power now appeared to be the government’s primary concern.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia also criticised the situation, alleging that it reflected a covert understanding between the BJP and the AIUDF. Saikia claimed that despite publicly denying any ideological alignment, the two parties were willing to cooperate to maintain their political interests.
He further described the AIUDF as the BJP’s “B-team” and alleged that the public exchanges of criticism between the parties were aimed at misleading voters. Saikia also pointed out that while a UPPL minister is already part of the Sarma-led cabinet, the BJP has now relied on AIUDF MLAs to facilitate the Rajya Sabha nomination of UPPL president Pramod Boro.
