Badruddin Ajmal walked into the Nagaon district headquarters on Tuesday to file his nomination for the upcoming Lok Sabha bypoll. The AIUDF chief, who recently lost his traditional Dhubri assembly seat, is attempting to reclaim his parliamentary throne from a different constituency. His decision ends weeks of speculation about where the former MP would strike next after his electoral setback.
The campaign launch was marked by a sharp pivot in Ajmal's rhetoric. He abandoned the narrow minority-focused narrative that often defines his political brand, instead pledging to address the grievances of the majority community. "There are lakhs of issues facing Muslims, but the majority community also has many issues," Ajmal stated, arguing that political discourse cannot ignore the broader electorate. He identified education, healthcare, and flood erosion control as his primary legislative priorities if elected.
Then came the attack. When asked about the incumbent Congress candidate, Ajmal did not mince words. "Congress in Assam today is like the BJP," he said. "Voting for Congress and voting for BJP is the same. So Congress should not be given votes." The comment is a calculated risk; it aims to siphon off anti-BJP votes that might otherwise go to the Congress, while simultaneously alienating the party’s traditional base.
Ajmal expressed high confidence in his chances, citing a "new hope" among voters. "The atmosphere will be in my favour," he claimed. The election will be a critical test for the Congress in Assam, which has struggled to maintain its identity distinct from the BJP in recent years. With elections scheduled for May 2025, the next 30 days will determine if Ajmal’s broadened appeal can convert into a parliamentary mandate.