Guwahati, Mar 18: In a surprising development ahead of the Assam assembly elections, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) vice president and Mankachar MLA Aminul Islam resigned from the party on Tuesday after serving for two decades.

Islam, who was recently suspended for six years over alleged “anti-party activities” and support for rival parties, stated that personal reasons prompted his departure and emphasized he holds no grudges. Speaking to ANI, he described party chief Badruddin Ajmal as his “mentor” and said, “I worked under Maulana Badruddin Ajmal for 20 years. I have no grudges with anyone. I’ll consult voters in my constituency—if they want me to contest, I will, from whichever party they choose.”

The suspension order, issued by AIUDF general secretary Hafiz Bashir Ahmed, cited actions “detrimental to the party’s interest” and suggested that Islam was likely to join an opposing party.

Reacting to the AIUDF’s second candidate list released Tuesday, Islam urged Ajmal to contest from his home constituency of Binnakandi, noting that party members believe he will win. The list includes Badruddin Ajmal (Binnakandi), Hafiz Bashir Ahmed (Goalpara East), Nazrul Hoque (Dhubri), Mazibur Rahman (Dalgaon), Ashraful Hussain (Chenga), Abdul Aziz (Samaguri), Shihab Uddin (Karimganj South), Imdad Hussain (Chamaria), Jamsher Talukdar (Golakganj), Musukha Basumatary (Bijni), Mukut Das (Raha), and Anup Kr. Das Talukdar (Ram Krishna Nagar).

Assam’s 126 assembly seats will go to polls in a single phase on April 9, with results scheduled for May 4, according to the Election Commission of India. The BJP-led NDA, headed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is seeking a third term, facing competition from a resurgent Congress. In the 2021 elections, the NDA won 75 seats (BJP: 60), while the Congress-AIUDF alliance secured 16. In 2016, the BJP won 60 seats, Congress 26, and AIUDF 13, with voter turnout at 86.2% and 83.9% respectively.