AIUDF names Maulana Badruddin Ajmal as candidate for third Rajya Sabha seat; appeal made to opposition allies

The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has announced that party supremo Maulana Badruddin Ajmal will be its candidate for the third Rajya Sabha seat from Assam, marking a significant political move ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

The announcement was made at a press conference by AIUDF leaders, who also revealed that special letters have been sent to senior opposition figures, including Rahul Gandhi and Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, seeking their support for Ajmal’s candidacy. The party has also urged other opposition parties to back the AIUDF nominee in the Rajya Sabha polls.

Veteran politician with wide reach

Ajmal, 75, is a long-standing figure in Assam’s political landscape. He founded the AIUDF in 2005 and has led it ever since, turning the party into the third largest political formation in the state after the BJP and Congress. Apart from his political work, Ajmal is a successful businessman and philanthropist, widely known for his family-run Ajmal Perfumes business and for running the Ajmal Foundation, which oversees educational and healthcare institutions in Assam. 

He has previously served as a three-time Member of Parliament from the Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency, representing the interests of his constituents at the national level. However, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Ajmal lost the Dhubri seat — a significant setback for the party, which now seeks to regain political momentum through the Rajya Sabha. 

Strategies and opposition alignments

In recent months, AIUDF has been active in shaping its electoral strategy for the upcoming Assam polls, including exploring possible alliances with other regional parties such as AIMIM. Ajmal has publicly targeted both major national parties — the Congress and the BJP — accusing them of political opportunism and stating that AIUDF aims to challenge the BJP’s dominance in the state. 

The move to seek support from leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Gaurav Gogoi shows AIUDF’s attempt to forge broader opposition unity for the Rajya Sabha contest, even as its position in state politics continues to evolve.

The Rajya Sabha elections are expected to draw attention in Assam’s political circles, with parties engaging in negotiations and strategic outreach ahead of the vote, which could influence alliances and legislative backing in the months leading up to the state assembly polls.

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