Guwahati, May 22 (IANS) The Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) Friday extended outside support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre even though it had fought against the Congress in the general elections in Assam.
The AUDF, a regional party with a largely Muslim support base, has one Lok Sabha seat.

“We have in principle decided to extend outside support to the UPA government in response to a request from the central Congress leadership as we want a stable and secular government to rule the country,” said Badruddin Ajmal, AUDF president and newly elected member of the Lok Sabha.

However, in Assam the party will continue to oppose the Congress as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“For the development of Assam and the Muslim minority, the AUDF will perform (as) a constructive opposition party in Assam.”

The AUDF had fought the Lok Sabha election in Assam against the Congress and BJP in alliance with the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Communist Party of India (CPI), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Bodoland Progressive People’s Front (BPPF).

Perfume baron Ajmal said his party would support the Congress-led UPA from outside “to respect people’s verdict against communal forces”.

The AUDF, which has emerged as a political force to be reckoned with in Assam, turned out to be a major spoiler for the state’s ruling Congress party.

Ajmal, who has been elected to the Lok Sabha from Dhubri Lok Sabha seat in eastern Assam, met senior Congress leaders in New Delhi Thursday at the invitation of Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had earlier said the UPA tally stood at 322, including outside support from the Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).