Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday denied his role in ouster of Assam Jamiat Ulama-e Hind president Badruddin Ajmal.
Clarifying that allegation levelled by the Assam United Democratic Front that the Congress is behind the ouster of Mr Ajmal from the Jamiat was totally baseless and politically motivated, Mr Gogoi told reporters that they have cordial relationship with all the Muslim organisations.
Describing it an internal matter of Jamiat, chief minister however admitted that it would certainly have impact over the minority politics of the state.
Meanwhile, ouster of Mr Ajmal who is also the member of Lok Sabha, from Jamiat Ulama-e Hind has not gone down well in Assam. If minority leaders of the state are to be believed, appointment of a die-hard Congress men and former Congress MLA Abdul Jalil Raghibi as head of ad-hoc committee of Assam Jamiat in place of Mr Ajmal may have serious repercussion in the state.
Mr Ajmal who floated AUDF is known for changing the course of minority politics in Assam by motivating intellectuals and educated class of Muslim leaders to join politics.
Perfume baron turn politician Mr Ajmal not only stood for the rights of minority but also broken the tradition of Muslims rallying behind the Congress party. Newly-appointed president of the Jamiat Mr Abdul Jalil Raghibi is among those who formed United Minority Front (UMF) in 1985 and won assembly election in 1986 but later he along with other 11 UMF MLAs merged to Congress before 1991 Assembly election.
Mr Ajmal was also under the pressure but rejected the proposal of Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi either merger of AUDF as it did with United Minority Front (UMF) in nineties or at least a pre-poll alliance with AUDF.
Insiders said that ouster of Mr Ajmal from Assam Jamiat may erode its stronghold on Muslims in Assam as there is every possibility of show off strength between Maulana Syed Arshad Madni, president of a fraction of Jamiat Ulama-e Hind and Mr Ajmal who is preparing to announce their strategy soon.