Guwahati, Jan 8 : The Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) today said it was not at all interested in tying up with the Congress in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections and instead asked the minority legislators of the ruling party to join the front.

AUDF president Badruddin Ajmal told reporters today at the party’s legislature office that on January 11 his party would hold a meeting with the NCP, the CPM and the CPI on seat-sharing arrangement for the Lok Sabha elections due in April.

He said his party as of now has decided to contest from nine seats. But he added that if the need arose, his party would leave a few more seats to its allies.

The nine seats earmarked by his party are Dhubri, Barpeta, Guwahati, Mangaldoi, Nagaon, Koliabor, Tezpur, Silchar and Karimganj. Ajmal said he wished to contest from Dhubri and Silchar.

A few months back, senior AICC leader Veerappa Moily made an offer to the AUDF to renew its ties with the Congress.

The invitation had triggered an internal conflict within the state Congress, and a group claiming its allegiance to chief minister Tarun Gogoi went on an overdrive to prevent Ajmal’s “return” to the Congress.

Ajmal today said a section of the Congress minority leaders had been worried of losing importance in the party in the event of a merger. “It is these leaders who are trying to create confusion among the people by spreading rumours about our merger with the Congress,” he added.

Ajmal said the AUDF was not at all interested in joining hands with the Congress. “By taking an anti-Congress and an anti-BJP stand, we have been doing well, so there is no question of us deviating from our stand,” he said.