Akhil Gogoi didn't join Grand Alliance as we refused to pay Rs.10 crore as demanded: AIUDF

GUWAHATI: The All India United Democratic Party (AIUDF) on Tuesday has accused MLA Akhil Gogoi, Chief of Raijor Dal of demanding Rs. 10 crore from the party right before the Assembly polls 2021.

AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam said that Gogoi did not become a part of the grand alliance that was formed with the objective of defeating BJP because the party did not agree to pay him the amount.

Talking to reporters, Islam said, “When he was in jail, we had some discussions. I gave him the suggestion to start his own party and be a part of the Grand Alliance to defeat BJP. He admitted that he would start a political party, but he would need financial assistance. He said that he was broke as he was in the jail. Also the members of KMSS were not financially strong. Also there phones were being tapped. Hence, he needed Rs 10 crores to establish his party as a strong one before the polls.”

He claimed that Gogoi refused to join the alliance because AIUDF expressed their in capability of paying such a huge amount.

“We didn't have the capacity to pay this much, so we didn't pay. May be he didn't join because we couldn't pay.”

Notably, Akhil Gogoi and AIUDF are at loggerheads after the former repeatedly termed AIUDF as a communal party just like the BJP. He has been strongly opposing to be a part of the Congress-led grand alliance as long as AIUDF is a partner to it.

Also Read: Not going to join TMC; says Akhil Gogoi

Islam said that Gogoi never had a problem to be a part of the Grand Alliance when the talks were going on with AIUDF before the polls.

“At that time Gogoi neither said that if AIUDF was in the Grand Alliance he would not join it, nor he said that it was a communal party. I had several discussions with him within a period of 15-20 days.”

Islam said, Gogoi’s behaviour changed after a BJP representative went to meet him at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.

“After that meeting, Gogoi changed. He then said that he would not join AIUDF as it is a communal party.”

Aminul Islam also alleged that as Gogoi didn't join the grand alliance and put up candidates in those constituencies where the Congress and AIUDF had candidates, it led to the win of BJP candidates.

“Initially he assured us that he would join the grand alliance. So we decided not to put any candidate from our side in those constituencies where he wanted seats for his party and vice versa. But as he didn’t join, he put up candidates in those constituencies. That way he also earned the support of Anti-CAA voters as well. Because of that Congress lost and BJP won.”

Referring to the letter of Akhil Gogoi that he wrote from the jail where he termed AIUDF as communal right before the assembly polls, Islam said, “That letter created a public sentiment in Upper Assam and that’s why the grand alliance lost to BJP.”

Follow us on Facebook