Badruddin Ajmal’s perfume loses fragrance

GUWAHATI: The scent of success wore off. Badruddin Ajmal’s AIUDF, once the principal voice of Muslim minorities in Assam, has crashed from 16 seats in the assembly to just two, signalling a sharp erosion of its political relevance as BJP’s wider sweep and Congress’ consolidation redraw the map.The 70-year-old businessman-politician, whose family-run fragrance house, Ajmal Perfumes, is a global brand, returned to the fray after his 2024 LS defeat in Dhubri. He won from Binnakandi in Hojai. Mazibur Rahman held Dalgaon. Elsewhere, the party collapsed across lower Assam and Barak Valley despite over 90% turnout in Muslim-majority constituencies.The surge in participation did not translate into votes for AIUDF. Instead, it consolidated behind Congress, which swept most minority-heavy seats. Constituencies with over 95% Muslim electorates — including Dhubri, Gauripur, Mankachar, Jaleswar, Chenga and Samaguri — tilted decisively toward Congress.Political analyst Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury attributed the slide to leadership choices and perception. “Ajmal could have projected someone else. A man who cannot walk properly became a candidate. It signals they want to keep the party confined to family,” he said.AIUDF functionaries pointed to “wrong candidate selection” and a direct contest with Congress — unlike their 2021 alliance — as key factors. Rahman, who retained Dalgaon, framed the verdict as a broader opposition defeat. “We thought Gaurav Gogoi would become the CM, but he lost. It’s painful,” he said, crediting his own win to local development.Formed in 2005 after SC scrapped IMDT Act, it had built its base among Bengali-speaking Muslims. Now, with no MPs and two MLAs, its future looks uncertain.