Congress will have no alliance with AUDF: Gogoi

Guwahati, Nov 21 (UNI) Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today dismissed any possibilities of an alliance of the Congress with the minority-backed Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) even as he launched a scathing attack on BJP's 'Hindutva' agenda.

''The Congress will have no alliance with the AUDF. The Congress is strong on its own and already has a partner in the form of Bodo People's Front (BPF),'' Mr Gogoi told mediapersons here.

The BPF is the ally of the ruling Congress-led alliance in the state.

Reports had been rife that the Congress was cozying towards the AUDF as the formation of the new party in 2006 had seen a dent in Congress minority voter base in the Assembly polls that year.

Mr Gogoi's remarks come at a time when a dissident faction in the Congress has been lobbying hard with the party high command for inclusion of the AUDF and had reportedly made inroads in getting approval.

AUDF chief Badaruddin Ajmal and Mr Gogoi's personal animosity is emerging as the main block in the two parties joining hands.

The AUDF had distanced itself from the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) after the latter went with the BJP and the AUDF leadership had hinted at formation of a third front of non-Congress and non-BJP parties.

Mr Gogoi, taking a dig at the BJP for its 'Hindutva' agenda, said, ''The BJP is trying to play divisive politics in the state along religious lines. But it will never succeed in its brand of politics here.'' He also maintained that the AGP will be annihilated by its alliance with the BJP. Both the parties have reached a seat-sharing arrangement for the Lok Sabha polls, though it was yet to be decided on which seat each of the party would contest.

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