<p>A decade after launching the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Maulana Badaruddin Ajmal has turned into one of the most successful Muslim politicians in the country. In an exclusive interview to <em>Deccan Herald’s Ratnadip Choudhury</em>, the 66-year-old cleric, better known for his worldwide trade of perfumes, points out why he would be the kingmaker in Assam.<br /><br />Your party has only gone on to perform better in every poll in Assam, but is yet to taste power. How realistic are your chances of being part of government formation this time?<br />This election is very important as far as its implications are concerned, even on national politics, and the position of our party is very good. We are expecting a very good result and we will play a key role in government formation. Whether we form a government of our own or give support to others will be decided later.<br /><br />The general perception is that the Congress and the BJP may fall just short of the magic figure. How do you plan to make the best of such a situation?<br />You see, the Congress and the BJP are looking at some numbers, but they would be proved wrong on the day of the results. Now, the BJP has alliance partner in the Bodoland Peoples Front and the Asom Gana Parishad. We have an alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Janata Dal (United). So everyone is looking beyond the core vote bank, like my party is looking at tea garden votes. So every party is trying hard. I therefore see a great chance for my party to emerge as the main political force. I have a number in mind as well, but unlike others, I am not going to disclose it. People will see my party’s magic on the day of counting.<br /><br />In case of a hung Assembly, if the BJP or the Congress approaches you, whom would you go with?<br />First let me make it clear that there is no question of going with the BJP. Yes, there is a possibility of going with the Congress but it depends on post election scenario. Yes, Himanta Biswa Sarma, the convenor of BJP’s election management committee, was a good friend but after he joined the BJP, we cannot go with him. The report that we are hand in glove with the BJP is baseless. We will support secular forces. <br /><br />You have always been keen on a tie-up with the Congress. This time around, with the help of Nitish Kumar, you tried to float a Grand Alliance, but the Congress did not budge. Is there a trust deficit between the secular forces?<br />We floated the idea. Discussion took place at the highest but the Congress backed out since at the state level, the Congress leadership had issues with the idea. Nitish Kumar was involved, Prashant Kishor came to do a recce and even Rahul Gandhi’s office also showed interest. So it was not like I was floating an idea alone. I still think it was the best way to stop a communal force like the BJP. <br /><br />You are often branded as the protector of illegal migrants in Assam. How much does that affect your politics?<br />This has been a false propaganda ever since I joined politics and formed the AIUDF. We are not favouring illegal migrants. We want proper identification and deportation of every illegal migrant, but we are against the harassment to genuine Indians who are often labelled as Bangladeshis. Ever since the Bengali Muslims started to vote for the AIUDF, there is a political conspiracy to brand me and my party as the protector of Bangladeshis. Every Bengali speaking Muslim in Assam is not an illegal migrant, we are against this design. Illegal migrant issue is like a political fodder here.<br /><br />The media sees you as the kingmaker, but how do you think you would play a decisive role?<br />We will take on a decisive role to get the secular forces together depending on the results. Our party has candidates from every community, thus we will emerge as the political formation on which everyone would bank upon. We have also given ticket to new faces. If the BJP thinks it can win the elections by polarisation it is mistaken.</p>
<p>A decade after launching the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Maulana Badaruddin Ajmal has turned into one of the most successful Muslim politicians in the country. In an exclusive interview to <em>Deccan Herald’s Ratnadip Choudhury</em>, the 66-year-old cleric, better known for his worldwide trade of perfumes, points out why he would be the kingmaker in Assam.<br /><br />Your party has only gone on to perform better in every poll in Assam, but is yet to taste power. How realistic are your chances of being part of government formation this time?<br />This election is very important as far as its implications are concerned, even on national politics, and the position of our party is very good. We are expecting a very good result and we will play a key role in government formation. Whether we form a government of our own or give support to others will be decided later.<br /><br />The general perception is that the Congress and the BJP may fall just short of the magic figure. How do you plan to make the best of such a situation?<br />You see, the Congress and the BJP are looking at some numbers, but they would be proved wrong on the day of the results. Now, the BJP has alliance partner in the Bodoland Peoples Front and the Asom Gana Parishad. We have an alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Janata Dal (United). So everyone is looking beyond the core vote bank, like my party is looking at tea garden votes. So every party is trying hard. I therefore see a great chance for my party to emerge as the main political force. I have a number in mind as well, but unlike others, I am not going to disclose it. People will see my party’s magic on the day of counting.<br /><br />In case of a hung Assembly, if the BJP or the Congress approaches you, whom would you go with?<br />First let me make it clear that there is no question of going with the BJP. Yes, there is a possibility of going with the Congress but it depends on post election scenario. Yes, Himanta Biswa Sarma, the convenor of BJP’s election management committee, was a good friend but after he joined the BJP, we cannot go with him. The report that we are hand in glove with the BJP is baseless. We will support secular forces. <br /><br />You have always been keen on a tie-up with the Congress. This time around, with the help of Nitish Kumar, you tried to float a Grand Alliance, but the Congress did not budge. Is there a trust deficit between the secular forces?<br />We floated the idea. Discussion took place at the highest but the Congress backed out since at the state level, the Congress leadership had issues with the idea. Nitish Kumar was involved, Prashant Kishor came to do a recce and even Rahul Gandhi’s office also showed interest. So it was not like I was floating an idea alone. I still think it was the best way to stop a communal force like the BJP. <br /><br />You are often branded as the protector of illegal migrants in Assam. How much does that affect your politics?<br />This has been a false propaganda ever since I joined politics and formed the AIUDF. We are not favouring illegal migrants. We want proper identification and deportation of every illegal migrant, but we are against the harassment to genuine Indians who are often labelled as Bangladeshis. Ever since the Bengali Muslims started to vote for the AIUDF, there is a political conspiracy to brand me and my party as the protector of Bangladeshis. Every Bengali speaking Muslim in Assam is not an illegal migrant, we are against this design. Illegal migrant issue is like a political fodder here.<br /><br />The media sees you as the kingmaker, but how do you think you would play a decisive role?<br />We will take on a decisive role to get the secular forces together depending on the results. Our party has candidates from every community, thus we will emerge as the political formation on which everyone would bank upon. We have also given ticket to new faces. If the BJP thinks it can win the elections by polarisation it is mistaken.</p>
