Badruddin Ajmal launches national political party

By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: The Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) led by Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, president of Assam Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind, today announced the formation of a national political party which will field candidates in the coming Lok Sabha elections in at least six states.
Announcing the launch of the party at Press Club of India in New Delhi today, perfume baron and AUDF leader Maulana Badruddin Ajmal said the party will field candidates in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Maharashtra besides Assam. Very soon the party will form a political affairs committee which will decide about the seats.
“I appeal to all secular parties to join UDF which will be representing Muslims, backward classes and poor sections of the society,” said Maulana Ajmal. While he said he was not much hopeful about big secular parties he will be ready to share power with UPA, NDA minus BJP and Third Front. He, however, made it clear that he will continue to oppose Congress in Assam whose policies, he said, are anti-Muslims. He said he will have no truck with BJP or any communal parties in Assam or anywhere.
On the fact that at election times several parties emerge and make big announcements, he said people should not compare AUDF with such parties. AUDF was formed in October 2005 and in the Assembly elections held three months later, it won 10 seats. “Congress has been frightening Muslims that if they did not vote for it, BJP will come to power. We opposed both Congress and BJP in Assam and won 10 seats,” he said. AUDF got 50 lakh votes, that is 18% of cast votes.
“AUDF is playing the role of opposition in Assam though it is the third largest party in the Assembly” Maulana Ajmal said and added Jamiat Ulema is with AUDF in Assam. He said recently formed AUDF-led Third Front, which comprises AUDF, CPI, CPM and NCP, will contest all 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Of them nine will be from AUDF. He said he is hopeful of winning at least five seats there. He himself will be contesting from Dhubri and Silcher.
Pointing out that his is a secular party, not a Muslim party, he said in the 2005 Assam Assembly elections AUDF had fielded 73 candidates, of which 32 were non-Muslims. Two of them won.
“We will welcome secular minded and clean people who do not get tickets in Congress or other parties,” he said adding UDF will bring in a political party whereon people will have faith.
“If we got even one seat from each state, or only one seat in the country, that will be a great achievement,” Maulana Ajmal said. He, however, did not announce the name of the national party. In different states it will have different name with the tag of UDF.
AUDF will launch Maharashtra UDF on February 28.
http://twocircles.net/2009feb02/badruddin_ajmal_launches_national_political_party.html