Patna: It seems that All India United Democratic Front of perfume baron and MP Maulana Badruddin Ajmal is losing grip on the party MLAs in Assam. The cross-voting of AIUDF MLAs and some other Opposition MLAs helped Congress win two Rajya Sabha seats from the state two days ago. AIUDF, however, has alleged Congress of using money power to win the seats.
In the Raya Sabha elections held on March 26, Congress retained its two seats from Assam. The Congress fielded two candidates – Nazneen Farooq as first preference candidate and Silvious Condpan the second preference. The Congress’ first preference candidate Nazneen Farooq got 43 votes and second preference Silvious Condpan 42 votes while the opposition’s unanimous candidate Jayanta Baruah got 40 votes. Congress though has support of 75 MLAs it got votes from 85 MLAs ensuring the win of its candidates. While opposition parties including AGP, BJP, AIUDF, and Left parties as well as some independent MLAs had projected Jayanta Baruah, the owner of the mass circulated Asomiya Pratidin newspaper, as the consensus non-political candidate of the combined opposition.
In 126-member house, Congress has 57 MLAs of its own, 11 MLAs from its ally Bodo People's Front and eight independent MLAs while opposition parties AGP has 24 MLAs, BJP 10, AIUDF nine, the Left parties have three MLAs.
Seven MLAs from three major opposition parties -- Rumi Nath, Abhijit Hazarika, Shambhu Singh Malla and Kartiksena Sinha of the BJP, Anwarul Haque and Rasul Haque of the AUDF and AGP's Abdul Aziz -- voted for the Congress candidate for the second seat. One MLA each of the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and Ganashakti also supported the Congress.
Congress termed it as historic win and victory of truth but opposition has alleged it of using money power for the purpose which is “murder of democracy.”
Talking to TwoCircles.net Dr. Bahrul Islam, Gen. Secretary and spokesperson of AIUDF, said: “It was nothing but money power which made Congress able to secure both seats, otherwise our candidate was in the position to win one seat as we had 48 votes. But as usual Congress played dirty game for political gain.”
He also said that it was moral defeat of Congress as well as those MLAs of opposition parties who voted for Congress candidate.
Asked why he is confident that there was money power behind Congress victory he said: “AIUDF MLA Rasul Haque was one of those who purposed to support Jayanta Baruah and party has decided to do so after consulting all the members in several meetings but in the time of voting Mr. Rasul Haque voted against party’s line. What could be said except that a big deal has been done which lured him to go against party’s whip? Two Ministers in the state government were seen to take BJP MLAs who favored Congress candidate in the car to assembly house which strengthen the point that there was money power behind the Congress victory.”
Interestingly, the rebel leaders of AIUDF defended themselves by arguing that they voted for Congress candidates because they did not want to go on the line of BJP. BJP rebel MLAs presented the same logic that they went against rival AIUDF.
However, rejecting their argument all the MLAs who voted against their party lines have been suspended. They include Dr Rumi Nath, Abhijit Hazarika, Sambhu Singh Mallah and Kartik Sena Sinha of BJP, Rasul Haque and Anwarul Haque of AIUDF, Abdul Aziz of AGP.
“It is very shameful matter especially for that our two MLAs sold themselves for money. We have suspended both MLAs for their anti-party activities and tomorrow we will give an application to speaker and appeal to cancel their membership as BJP has already done it” said Dr. Bahrul Islam.
Asked if their application will be accepted he said: “We will do our work but whether we will succeed or not it depends on speaker.”
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