AIUDF head Badruddin Ajmal, who claims to be the BJP's only target in poll-bound Assam, has an issue with the top brass of the Bharatiya Janata Party that is not entirely political.
Ajmal, the owner of a massive perfumery business founded by his father, told NDTV that he had gifted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah perfumes, but they never used it.
"Have gifted perfumes to Modi ji, Amit Shah. If they don't use it, what can I do? Whenever I meet senior leaders, I gift them perfumes," he is quoted as saying.
He slammed the BJP for polarising voters in the state, saying that the saffron party has made an issue out of him by "stoking fears of this dadiwalla (someone with a beard) or topiwala (someone with a cap) will become the Chief Minister and bring in Bangladeshis".
"They didn't fulfil any of their promises. They said (before the 2016 elections) that they would control price rise, but they didn't. They promised to control the floods, but didn't. They promised to open industries, but didn't. They did nothing and have nothing to talk about, and so for every question, the answer is 'Badruddin Ajmal'," the leader said.
AIUDF is fighting the Assam polls in a 'Mahajot' alliance with Congress that seeks to wrest power from the ruling BJP.
Ajmal is confident that by joining forces with Congress, the issue of the divided votes will be solved. "Congress candidates will get Muslim votes, they will be victorious," he said. The leader also said that since Congress is bound to get more votes, the Chief Minister will be from that party.
"Badruddin Ajmal's role will be to fulfil promises and keep people united," he said.
After the first phase on March 27, Assam will witness Phase-2 polls on April 1. Results are expected on May 2.