Badruddin Ajmal (File Image)
Guwahati: Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has issued a notice to its Assam president and AIUDF chief Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, seeking a written explanation within 24 hours over his alleged alliance with a ‘communal political party’ during his party’s election campaign, triggering a move that can potentially unsettle the Muslim voters in the state.While the notice, signed by JUH general secretary Maulana Hakimuddin Qasmi, did not specify the ‘communal political party’, it has asked Ajmal to explain the objectives and circumstances behind his actions.Speaking to TOI, Ajmal said, “We have sought time from Jamiat and will make our position clear after the election.”With the identity of the political party yet to be ascertained, Ajmal said, “We don’t have any alliance with BJP. It was never there and will never happen in the future.”According to some political insiders, the ‘communal political party’ mentioned in the notice could be a direct reference to All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi, who has been campaigning for Ajmal and other AIUDF candidates.Owaisi, in his nine campaign rallies so far, has maintained, “Muslims have lived in Assam for over 150 years. No one can destroy their presence,” while accusing CM Himanta Biswa Sarma of using threatening language against the ‘miya’ community and undermining the dignity of a public office.The AIMIM supremo’s statement drew a sharp rebuttal from Sarma, who said Owaisi was “weaponising the Miya community” for electoral gains.According to a source close to the AIUDF chief, Owaisi shares a very close personal relationship with the former. “We are giving a tough fight to Congress in many seats,” the source said.While Congress has accused Ajmal of being BJP’s ‘B’ team, a charge which he has strongly denied, Congress and AIUDF share the same Muslim vote bloc, which accounts for about 30% of the electorate, roughly around 75 lakh voters, who even after the delimitation exercise are the decisive voters in 22 out of 126 constituencies.Ajmal, who is attempting a return to state politics after two decades, having first entered the Assam assembly in 1996, will be contesting from the Binnakandi constituency following his defeat to Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Dhubri — a seat he had held since 2009.Hafiz Bashir Ahmed Qasimi, of the state Jamiat Ulama, said, “There are many Muslim organization which have a say among Muslim voters, but Jamiat’s influence is the biggest. We are aware of the show-cause notice to Badruddin Ajmal. We will be discussing it soon.”Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind is one of the leading organisations of Islamic scholars, belonging to the Deobandi school of thought in India, of which Ajmal is a devout follower. He holds a master’s degree in theology and Arabic from Darul Uloom Deoband.The notice recalled the organisation’s historic working committee meeting of August 1951, under Maulana Syed Husain Ahmad Madani, which laid down a clear policy: Members and office bearers must not associate with communal organisations or parties, but align only with political forces committed to national unity, constitutional values, and the country’s plural fabric.According to the Jamiat, Ajmal’s alleged political understanding with a communal party marks a departure from this principled line. The notice warned that if the response is unsatisfactory, action will be taken under the organisation’s rules and constitution.
