Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Assam Congress Calls AIUDF BJP’s B-Team Ahead of Nagaon Bypoll
A Congress leader in Assam accused AIUDF of helping the BJP.
He said AIUDF announced its candidate early to weaken Congress.
He also said AIUDF wanted to attract minority voters.
AIUDF has rejected Congress’s request to form an alliance.
This means the two Opposition parties may compete against each other.
Badruddin Ajmal chose Rejaul Karim Sarkar to contest for AIUDF.
The election will take place for the Nagaon parliamentary seat.
The seat became empty after Pradyut Bordoloi left Congress and joined the BJP.
The BJP may benefit if Opposition votes are divided.
Congress leader Ripun Bora accused AIUDF of acting as the BJP’s “B team” in Assam.
Bora said AIUDF announced its Nagaon bypoll candidate early to divide Opposition votes.
AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal named Rejaul Karim Sarkar as the party’s candidate.
AIUDF rejected Congress’s appeal for an alliance, setting up a separate contest.
The Nagaon seat became vacant after Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned and joined the BJP.
- Who
- Congress leader Ripun Bora accused AIUDF of aiding the BJP; AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal announced Rejaul Karim Sarkar as the party’s candidate.
- What
- The Congress and AIUDF are heading toward a separate contest in the Nagaon Lok Sabha bye-election amid allegations of Opposition vote-splitting.
- When
- Bora made the remarks on Tuesday; the bye-election is upcoming.
- Where
- The remarks were made in Guwahati, and the bye-election will be held in Assam’s Nagaon constituency.
- Why
- Bora alleges that AIUDF’s early candidate announcement and separate contest are intended to consolidate minority votes, weaken Congress, and divide the Opposition vote.
Congress’s Allegation
AIUDF’s Position
Role in the election
Congress’s Allegation
Ripun Bora alleged that AIUDF is the BJP’s “B team” and is working to weaken Congress.
AIUDF’s Position
AIUDF has rejected Congress’s appeal for an alliance and is contesting separately; the article does not report a direct response to Bora’s allegation.
Candidate announcement
Congress’s Allegation
Congress alleges that AIUDF’s early announcement was advised by the BJP and intended to split Opposition votes.
AIUDF’s Position
AIUDF announced Rejaul Karim Sarkar as its candidate ahead of the bye-election, but the article does not state the party’s reason for the timing.
Minority votes
Congress’s Allegation
Bora said AIUDF seeks to consolidate minority votes and erode Congress’s traditional support among minority voters.
AIUDF’s Position
AIUDF’s decision to contest independently indicates a separate electoral strategy, though the article does not provide its stated position on the minority-vote allegation.
- Election
- Nagaon Lok Sabha bye-election
- Congress accuser
- Senior Congress leader Ripun Bora
- AIUDF candidate
- Rejaul Karim Sarkar
- AIUDF president
- Badruddin Ajmal
- Seat vacancy
- The seat became vacant after Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned and joined the BJP.
- Alliance status
- AIUDF rejected Congress’s appeal for an alliance.
- Potential impact
- The separate contest could divide Opposition votes and potentially benefit the BJP.