Polarised politics presents alternatives for AIUDF’s development in Assam

By Tanuj Dhar

Guwahati, Sep 24 (IANS): Within the political situation of Assam, the All-India United Democratic Entrance (AIUDF) has been thought-about a key participant within the energy shift within the state the place as per the 2011 census, 34.22 per cent, that’s, one-third of the entire inhabitants, is constituted by Muslims. Nonetheless, the growing dominance of AIUDF in Assam politics had created a floor for the BJP to develop, resulting in the saffron celebration to type the federal government in 2016.

In Assam’s political area, the arguments for a Muslim celebration gained floor in 1977, and Jap India Muslim Affiliation (EIMA) emerged within the state to cater to the political and financial pursuits of the neighborhood. The EIMA strongly opposed the affiliation of Muslims with Congress and it turned part of the Progressive Democratic Entrance within the 1978 state elections.

In October 1978, the EIMA was dissolved and merged with the Indian Union Muslim League and re-emerged as Jap Zonal Muslim League (EZML). However because of the Assam Motion that started in 1979, EZML couldn’t maintain itself.

In 2005, the AIUDF was fashioned and the formation was actively led by the Muslim spiritual group, Jamiat. AIUDF had proven steady success within the final three state Meeting elections and in contrast to EIMA, stte politics had been influenced by AIUDF considerably.

The Supreme Court docket in July 2005 declared the Unlawful Migrants (Willpower by Tribunal), Act as ‘undemocratic’ and it was repealed which created worry among the many immigrant Muslims within the state and due to this fact, the Assam unit of Jamiat got here ahead to handle the difficulty.

Badruddin Ajmal, president of the Assam unit of Jamiat took result in type a brand new political outfit the Assam United Democratic Entrance, of which hebecame the president. The outfit promised to safeguard the pursuits of the minorities of Assam.

The AIUDF as a celebration confirmed important development within the Assam Meeting elections between 2006 and 2011 however remained nearly stagnant throughout 2011-2021, whereas the BJP confirmed shocking development throughout this era.

The AIUDF contested primarily from center and decrease Assam districts of the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys, the place the Muslim inhabitants is concentrated. Within the 2021 Meeting election, AIUDF contested simply 20 seats of the entire 126 within the state and gained 16 seats forming ‘Grand Alliance’ with the Congress, Bodoland Peoples Entrance (BPF), and CPI (M).

The immigrant Muslims of Assam had proven robust help for Congress and considerably helped Congress to remain in energy after independence. To maintain immigrant Hindu and Muslim communities dwelling within the state inside its fold, the Congress opposed the Assam Motion and imposed the IM (DT) Act on Assam.

Nonetheless, the scenario modified with the repeal of the IM (DT) Act by the apex courtroom, AIUDF argued in help of immigrant Muslims and the celebration began to draw help from a big part of immigrant Muslims. When AIUDF gained 10 seats within the 2006 Meeting election, the indigenous Assamese inhabitants started to imagine that if one-third of the Muslims of the state rallied behind the celebration, it might come to energy within the state very simply.

The Congress and veteran chief Tarun Gogoi exploited this worry of indigenous Assamese individuals and sharpened its assault on AIUDF and Badaruddin Ajmal. The 2011 Meeting election was fought towards the backdrop of Muslim politics underneath AIUDF and the comfortable Hindutva of Tarun Gogoi-led Assam Congress and consequently, Congress got here to energy for the third consecutive time period.

Within the 2011 elections, AIUDF gained 18 seats and emerged as the primary opposition celebration within the Assam Legislative Meeting. This incident once more made the indigenous Assamese uncomfortable and led to the scenario the place BJP and Hindu organizations began to achieve floor in Assam.

Ajmal, impressed by the success of the 2011 Meeting elections, began divisive politics by delivering communally provocative statements; however these statements as an alternative helped BJP considerably to unite Hindu votes towards the AIUDF.

On account of this, the state was fully communally polarised by AIUDF and BJP through the 2014 Lok Sabha election and each the events confirmed unprecedented success on this election. Out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam, AIUDF gained three, BJP seven, whereas the ruling Congress might win solely three.

Within the run-up of 2016 Meeting elections, the BJP strategically focused the immigrant Muslims who type the help base of the AIUDF and this fashion BJP tried to unite and consolidate Hindus behind it. BJP additionally tried to divide Muslim votes between Congress and AIUDF. BJP talked concerning the implementation of the Assam Accord and the upgradation of the NRC in Assam to consolidate the Hindu votes.

Muslim voters had been confused with all of the strikes by BJP and remained divided. Consequently, Congress needed to battle arduous to draw voters and the AIUDF needed to rely solely on immigrant Muslims. To place an finish to this vote share division, AIUDF and Congress allied within the 2021 Meeting election and fought towards BJP forming ‘Grand alliance’ however this might not rescue each the events towards BJP. The alliance thereby got here to an finish with no success gained.

In Assam politics, the comfortable Hindutva method of Congress made AIUDF related within the regional political spectrum, whereas to strengthen its personal electoral success within the state, BJP strategically desires Muslim communalism to outlive and thrive within the state.

Thereby the incumbent Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP authorities began hurting the feelings of Muslims via totally different insurance policies resembling disbanding the Madrasa Board; withdrawing Friday holidays noticed by the madrasas and changing them to regular faculties; demolition of private-run madrasas; eviction drive in Muslim dominated areas –the lengthy checklist has created new alternatives for the rise of AIUDF in Assam politics.