2 months ago
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The All India Trinamool Congress has fielded an Assam MLA who stirred a hornet’s nest by suggesting a Miya Museum astatine a taste centre successful Guwahati 5 years ago.
Sherman Ali Ahmed figured successful the database of 7 candidates announced by the Trinamool connected Sunday (March 22, 2026). He is contesting from Mandia, a Muslim-dominated constituency successful occidental Assam’s Barpeta district.
Controversy has followed Mr. Ahmed, a authorities officer-turned-politician known for speaking his mind.
He won his archetypal predetermination successful 2011 from the now-defunct Baghbar constituency successful Barpeta territory arsenic a campaigner of the minority-based All India United Democratic Front. He aboriginal fell retired with AIUDF main and perfume baron Badruddin Ajmal and won the adjacent 2 elections from Baghbar arsenic a campaigner of the Indian National Congress.
Mr. Ahmed became a people for right-wing leaders aft helium projected a Miya Museum astatine Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra successful 2020. His troubles compounded aft winning the 2021 polls, erstwhile the Congress suspended him for “repeatedly violating” enactment discipline.
In February, little than a period earlier the April 9 elections were announced, helium joined the Raijor Dal, a enactment calved retired of the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act disturbance successful 2019 and espousing a blend of regionalism and Assamese nationalism. Raijor Dal promised him a summons but backed retired aft striking a seat-sharing woody with the Congress.
“I beryllium an apology to Sherman Ali Ahmed. We are keen connected fielding him, but Congress was against his nomination,” Raijor Dal president and Sibsagar MLA Akhil Gogoi said.
The Raijor Dal, however, fielded Abdur Rashid Mandal, who defected from the Congress on with Mr. Ahmed. Mr. Mandal is contesting the Goalpara East constituency.
“I americium from Assam, but nary enactment accepted me. I person joined the Trinamool with a dense heart,” Mr. Ahmed said, thanking the enactment led by Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, for giving him a chance.
Trinamool person and Rajya Sabha subordinate Sushmita Dev defended his nomination. “We are contesting seats wherever we are stronger than different absorption candidates. Our docket is to oust the BJP,” she told The Hindu.
“We are growing, and we did amended successful the Assam panchayat predetermination than immoderate of the confederation partners of Congress. We expect to bash overmuch amended than the past Assembly elections,” she said.
Among the different candidates fielded by the Trinamool is Rojy Ahmed from the Hajo-Sualkuchi spot reserved for the Scheduled Castes. She is the woman of the party’s State wide secretary, Dulu Ahmed, who opted retired of the contention for the Chamaria seat.
