Assam: Yunis Tamuli questions Ajmal’s roadside prayers, alleges election-time religious politics

Independent candidate Yunis Tamuli, contesting the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election, visited Rupohihat and launched a sharp attack on the Congress and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), raising questions over their approach to minority representation and religious politics.

Tamuli questioned whether he could emerge as a key player in the by-election or whether his candidature would lead to a division of minority votes. He also rejected allegations by some political leaders that he was acting as an agent of the BJP, with critics reportedly accusing him of attempting to split minority votes.

Targeting AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, Tamuli questioned Ajmal’s reported act of offering prayers by the roadside in Nagaon. He alleged that the AIUDF resorts to religious politics during elections and appealed to Ajmal to refrain from using religious practices for political purposes.

Tamuli also questioned the Congress’s decision not to nominate a minority candidate, arguing that a substantial section of the Nagaon constituency’s population belongs to minority communities. He alleged that Congress was unwilling to see minority leaders rise within the party and claimed that, in this regard, it was more communal than the BJP.

Commenting on the BJP’s relationship with Muslim voters, Tamuli said Muslims continued to face questions about their acceptance within the party despite some members wearing BJP caps. He remarked that it remained to be seen whether Muslim voters were being misled by the BJP or whether the political dynamics were working the other way around.

His remarks come amid political activity ahead of the Nagaon by-election, with minority representation, vote division and the role of regional parties emerging as key points of debate.