Rafiqul Islam (centre) won the Jania seat by a record 144,775 votes
GUWAHATI: Badruddin Ajmal’s AIUDF has not only emerged as one of the biggest winners in the Assam assembly elections by winning 80% of the seats it contested, it has also ended its “political untouchability” since its emergence in 2005 by aligning with the 10-Party “Grand Alliance” led by Congress.
AIUDF, which banks on Bengali-speaking Muslims of Assam, won 16 of the 20 seats seats it contested. The spectacular showing has been attributed to consolidation of Muslim votes in favour of the Grand Alliance.
Political analysts believe that being part of the alliance made AIUDF more “acceptable and ended its political isolation”. It has finished behind BJP (60) and Congress (29) with its seat tally, more than any other national or regional parties that contested the polls.