AIUDF candidates being sent to Dubai to prevent 'horse trading': Reports

GUWAHATI: With less than a month to go till the formation of the next government in Assam, the Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) seems to be exercising extra caution to ensure that its next batch of MLAs is not lured away by the rival alliance led by the BJP.

According to reports, the AIUDF, which is a constituent of the Congress-led Mahajot, has reportedly decided to send all its candidates outside the Assam by a chartered plane ahead of the counting of votes.

If reports are to be believed, as many as 18 candidates -- including 3 sitting MLAs -- contesting the polls left Guwahati city early in the morning today. They are headed to Rajasthan where they will visit the Ajmer Sharif.

As a preventive measure, the AIUDF candidates will be provided separate mobile phones so that they cannot be contacted by others and the talks are contained among party leaders.

According to reports, while many of the candidates will be accompanied by their families, while some other candidates will go alone.

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The polling for the three-phased Assam Assembly election 2021 was held on March 27, April 1 and April 6.

Meanwhile, it is believed that the Congress is also gearing up to send its candidates outside the state. All these candidates are likely to return to the state on a May 2 -- the day of the counting of votes.

Opposition leaders voiced concerns about the BJP resorting to horse-trading after the elections in case the difference in numbers of seats between the two parties is slim.

Amid reports that no party might be able to win an absolute majority of Seats in the just-concluded election, the BJP's detractors say it may already be reaching out to candidates with offers too good to refuse.

Assembly polls in Assam are over and all eyes are on counting day on May 2 when the fates of candidates and political parties will be known.

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