Ajmal sees AIUDF's greater role at national level

"Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has already invited me to be a part of the grand alliance and I have responded positively," he told PTI in an interview.

"Nitish Kumar has also asked me to join hands with them for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and I have consented to campaign in the state, particularly in the minority-dominated areas," he said.

AIUDF will, however, chalk out its strategy for the national stage only after the results of the Assam polls, the MP from Dhubri said.

AIUDF, the largest opposition party with 18 seats in the outgoing assembly, has already formed an alliance with JD(U) and RJD although these two parties do not have any significant presence in the state.

"We definitely have plans to play a constructive role at the national level but our party's primary focus will be on the all-round development of Assam and people of all communities in the state," the AIUDF chief said.

Assam's problems remain a priority and "I have already raised the foreigners issue and the problem of flood and erosion in the ongoing session of Parliament", he said.

"I will soon meet Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti to discuss on the issue of floods in the state. The Brahmaputra has to be controlled and we will continue our pressure on the Centre to declare floods a national calamity," he said.

"Unless floods are declared a national calamity, sufficient funds will not be sanctioned to tackle the issue and the problem will continue to persist and haunt us," Ajmal said.