Guwahati, Jan. 2: Assam cabinet minister Rakibul Hussain today accused AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal of being hand in glove with the BJP.

Hussain's attack comes close on the heels of Ajmal's recent tweet that though the AIUDF has softened its anti-Congress stand for the greater interest of Assam and following persuasion by top Congress leaders at the national level, the ruling party leaders in the state are continuing their attacks on the Opposition party.

Hussain, one of the most influential ministers in the Tarun Gogoi cabinet, also compared Ajmal with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief, Asaduddin Owaisi, who was allegedly propped by the BJP in Bihar Assembly elections last year.

Interestingly, Owaisi had last month decided to support Ajmal's AIUDF in the upcoming Assembly elections while maintaining that he would not contest the Assam polls to prevent division of Muslim votes.

Hussain today said, "From recent statements and activities by Ajmal a conclusion could be drawn that he has made some understanding with the BJP to grab power in Dispur next year."

Ajmal, while addressing a public rally in Samaguri Assembly constituency in Nagaon district on December 30, accused Hussain of being the greatest enemy of Muslims in Assam. Samaguri is represented by Hussain.

"First of all, I do not need a certificate from Ajmal on whether I am an enemy or friend of Muslims in Assam. But I want to ask why Ajmal had made statements in my constituency (Samaguri) on religious lines. I, being an MLA and a minister, not only represent Muslims but also people from other religions, communities and castes. Making such statements is a clear indication that Ajmal is playing polarisation politics on religious lines, which will benefit the BJP," Hussain told reporters here this afternoon.

Hussain, however, evaded a direct reply when reporters asked him about chief minister Tarun Gogoi's proposal of reaching an understanding with "secular" parties, including the AIUDF, to defeat "communal" BJP in the polls.

"Ajmal says I am enemy of Muslims. Is it because I do not address Prime Minister Narendra Modi as bade bhai (elder brother) and Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj as chhoti behen (younger sister) as Ajmal does?" Hussain asked.