The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), a significant opposition force in Assam, is seriously contemplating contesting the 2026 state assembly elections independently. This strategic shift comes after the party, led by Badruddin Ajmal, found itself excluded from a newly formed eight-party opposition coalition spearheaded by the Congress.
A History of Exclusion and Political Isolation
This is not the first time the AIUDF has been sidelined. The party, which holds 15 seats and is the second-largest opposition bloc in the assembly, has been politically isolated since the failure of the grand "mahajot" alliance to form a government in the 2021 elections. The new opposition alliance, which includes regional and Left parties, reportedly views the AIUDF as a "communal party" and a "protector of illegal Bangladeshi migrant Muslims."
Despite the AIUDF's repeated calls for opposition unity and its expressed willingness to align with the Congress, the latter has consistently rejected these overtures. The BJP-led government's ascent to power in mid-2021 prompted Congress to sever its ties with the AIUDF, which had been a major component of the ten-party grand alliance formed ahead of the last state election.
AIUDF's Stance and Strategic Meeting
Haidar Hussain Bora, the AIUDF's general secretary for media, articulated the party's frustration on Thursday. He stated that if the party continues to be excluded from future opposition alliances, it would have no choice but to contest the elections alone. Bora emphasized that a coalition of all opposition parties is necessary to defeat the BJP, pointing out that the AIUDF, along with the AAP and TMC, were not included in the newly announced opposition forum.
He questioned the logic behind keeping a party with 15 MLAs out of the alliance, suggesting such a move is unlikely to yield positive results. Bora also highlighted the relative weakness of other Congress allies in the new coalition, noting that apart from Congress itself, the other anti-BJP parties in the grouping have only two MLAs combined.
In response to these developments, the AIUDF has scheduled a crucial organisational meeting in Guwahati on November 17 and 18. This gathering is expected to finalize the party's strategy for the 2026 electoral battle. The party has expressed its readiness to contest more than 30 assembly seats where it has a strong historical performance record dating back to 2006.
Political Repercussions and Future Outlook
Reacting to the AIUDF's potential solo run, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a sharp political assessment. He declared that Badruddin Ajmal's political relevance has expired and that the AIUDF is no longer an acceptable entity in Assam's political landscape.
The decision of the AIUDF to potentially go it alone introduces a significant variable into the opposition's calculus for the 2026 elections. A fragmented opposition could potentially benefit the ruling BJP, making the outcome of the AIUDF's November meeting a critical moment for Assam's political future.
