No tie-up with Left may split secular votes: Gogoi

Fighting perhaps the toughest electoral battle in his life, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi apprehends division of secular votes in the absence of an understanding with parties like the Left with whom he is not averse to having a post-poll tie-up.

However, he ruled out any post-poll tie-up with AIUDF, led by Badruddin Ajmal – the face of Bengali Muslims, who has been gaining in strength after every election.

The 81-year-old Congress veteran feels his party and Left parties should have formed an alliance before the polls to defeat the BJP. “Yes, some secular votes will be divided because of the absence of an understanding between us (Congress and Left). We have the understanding now that we must defeat communal forces,” Gogoi said.