BJP Targets Ajmal After Assam By-Election Victory, Claims Voters Rejected Communal Politics

Guwahati, October 10 (Daily Kiran) : BJP leader Devashish Sharma has claimed that Badaruddin Ajmal, head of the AIUDF, attempted to gain votes through communal issues during the recent by-election campaign. He suggested that voters did not accept this approach, which likely influenced the election results. Sharma won the Nagao Lok Sabha by-election, defeating Ajmal by a significant margin of 157,804 votes.

In a press conference on Saturday, Sharma stated he could not definitively say whether Ajmal’s campaigning directly benefited him, as Ajmal was his opponent. However, he noted that Ajmal’s tactics may have swayed voter decisions against him.

“I cannot confirm if Ajmal helped me, as he was running against me. But his campaign strategy worked in my favor because he sought votes on communal lines, which the people rejected,” Sharma remarked.

He further predicted that the AIUDF’s political standing would weaken in the future, suggesting it could eventually meet the same fate as the Congress party.

According to the latest election figures, Sharma secured 691,804 votes, while Ajmal received 534,000. This victory is considered significant in a constituency with a large Muslim voter base.

When asked about support from minority voters, Sharma attributed his success to his consistent engagement with the community over the past four and a half years. His connections with cancer patients and survivors fostered personal relationships that positively impacted the election outcome.

Sharma credited his win to the BJP’s policies and the guidance of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Responding to allegations that he prepared for a political career while serving as the Deputy Commissioner in Morigaon and Nagaon, he stated that government officials are meant to implement state government plans.

He emphasized that he had no prior intention of entering politics, although he has had an interest in it since college and studied political science. “Some things are written in destiny, and perhaps this was mine,” he concluded.