Guwahati, Jan 19: Assam Congress tonight announced that it would contest the forthcoming Assembly elections in Assam in alliance with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), three Left parties - CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) and a regional party, Anchalik Gana Morcha.

Ending all speculations on the “Mahajoot” (grand alliance) before the media  in a city hotel here on this evening, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Ripun Bora said the move to form the alliance before the crucial polls was aimed at “ousting” the ruling BJP from power.

“We (Congress) have had a series of discussions with the five parties and have now come to a conclusion that we will fight the elections together to oust BJP from power,” Bora said.

The announcement by the APCC chief was made in the presence of AICC observer and Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Waghel, AICC Assam in-charge, Jitendra Singh and AICC leader Mukul Wasnik.

Representatives of the other five parties were also present at the media conference to confirm the alliance.
AICC Assam in charge, Jitendra Singh, replying to a query on why the Congress had delayed the announcement, said that the party had conducted surveys across the state to garner public opinion and found that the people of Assam want like-minded parties to unite ahead of the elections.