- Aminul Islam joined Congress after quitting AIUDF amid disciplinary action and brief AGP stint
- Islam was AIUDF's second in command before his suspension for six years over anti-party activities
- He met senior Congress leaders including Gaurav Gogoi and Jitendra Singh after joining the party
With Assam heading into Assembly elections, Mankachar MLA Aminul Islam on Wednesday joined the Congress, weeks after quitting the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) following disciplinary action and a short-lived stint outside the party.
Once AIUDF second in command, Aminul Islam joined Congress in presence of senior Congress leader Jitendra Singh.
Before joining the Congress, Islam had resigned from the AIUDF and decided to join the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). However, the AGP did not give him a party ticket, leading to a short stay in the party.
After joining the Congress, the MLA shared a Facebook post describing his meeting with Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi, AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh, and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel as "fruitful and cordial."
He said the discussions were important for the overall development of Mankachar and expressed confidence that the outcomes would mark the beginning of a "new journey full of possibilities."
Earlier in March, Islam was suspended for six years from party membership. The party order, signed by AIUDF general secretary Hafiz Bashir Ahmed, stated that Islam's "anti-party activities" had "repeatedly been deemed controversial and detrimental to the party's interest," news agency ANI reported.
Elections for all 126 Assembly constituencies in Assam will be held in a single phase on April 9, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Sunday.
Assam is set to witness a direct contest between the ruling BJP-led NDA government and the Congress.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government will aim to secure a third consecutive term, while the Congress will look to return to power by defeating the ruling alliance.
