Guwahati, August 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Senior Congress leader Ripun Bora has accused the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) of acting as the “B-team” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam, alleging that its early decision to announce a candidate for the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election is intended to divide Opposition votes and weaken the Congress.
Bora alleged that the AIUDF’s decision to declare its candidate well ahead of the bypoll was part of a strategy to consolidate minority votes behind the regional party and erode the Congress’ traditional support among minority voters.
“It is an open secret that AIUDF is the B team of BJP in Assam. At the advice of BJP, the AIUDF has declared the candidate so early. It is a part of their strategy just to consolidate the minority votes in favour of AIUDF and break the Congress support base among the minority people,” Bora said in Guwahati on Tuesday.
His remarks came after AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal announced former All Assam Minorities Students’ Union leader Rejaul Karim Sarkar as the party’s candidate for the Nagaon by-election.
The AIUDF has also turned down the Congress’ appeal for an alliance, paving the way for the two parties to contest the seat separately and potentially split the Opposition vote.
The Nagaon Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after sitting Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from Parliament and subsequently joined the BJP.
The bypoll has assumed political significance in Assam, with the BJP seeking to consolidate its position while Opposition parties attempt to retain their respective voter bases.
The Congress-AIUDF differences have become increasingly pronounced, particularly over the consolidation of minority votes. With the AIUDF deciding to contest independently, the Congress is expected to sharpen its campaign against the regional party.
The outcome of the Nagaon bypoll is likely to be closely watched as an indicator of the electoral impact of the Congress-AIUDF divide and the prospects for Opposition unity in Assam.
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