AIUDF chief Maulana Badruddin Ajmal’s entry into the October 6 Nagaon Lok Sabha by-poll has changed the political equation in the constituency.
The contest, earlier expected to be mainly between the BJP and Congress, is now likely to become a triangular fight, with Ajmal joining BJP candidate Debasish Sharma, Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora and AITC candidate Abdul Salam.
Ajmal, who is currently the MLA from Binnakandi, has a long political career in Assam.
He founded the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in 2005 and later became a three-time Lok Sabha MP from Dhubri.
He is also associated with Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind and is known in Assam not only as a politician but also as a businessman, philanthropist and Islamic scholar.
Badruddin Ajmal comes from the family behind Ajmal Perfumes, one of the best-known perfume businesses associated with Assam and the Gulf. His father, Haji Ajmal Ali, started the business after working with agarwood and oud in Assam and moved to Mumbai as the family business expanded.
Ajmal Perfumes was established in 1951 and gradually developed into an international fragrance company.
Today, the Ajmal brand has a portfolio of more than 300 fragrances and a large international retail and distribution network.
The company says its products are exported to more than 45 countries, while its international presence extends across the GCC and other global markets. A 2026 Indian Express report described the business as having around 400 stores across 70 countries.
The business is therefore an important part of Ajmal’s public identity. However, it is important to distinguish the Ajmal family business from Badruddin Ajmal’s personal political activities and charitable initiatives.
Education is another major area associated with Ajmal’s philanthropic work. The Ajmal Foundation, established in 2005 in Hojai, Assam, runs educational institutions and scholarship and coaching programmes. Its flagship Ajmal Super 40 programme provides coaching and support to students, particularly those from economically weaker backgrounds.
The programme has produced significant NEET results. In one reported year, more than 100 students cleared NEET after receiving coaching through the programme, with more than 80 expected to secure MBBS admission.
More recently, the Ajmal Foundation has reported providing free coaching, study materials, meals and mentorship to students from economically disadvantaged families. In 2025, the foundation felicitated more than 550 NEET and JEE achievers.
Ajmal’s charitable activities also include disaster relief. The Ajmal Foundation says it has assisted people affected by floods, cyclones and other disasters in Assam and elsewhere. Its relief programmes include food distribution, rehabilitation, housing and drinking-water initiatives.
During the 2026 Assam floods, Badruddin Ajmal announced a personal contribution of ₹2 crore for relief and rehabilitation.
Separately, the Ajmal Foundation unveiled a ₹100-crore long-term rehabilitation programme for flood-affected families.
The programme includes 10,000 low-cost houses, 10,000 toilets and the distribution of mekhela-sadors to up to 10 lakh affected women. By early August, Ajmal said around ₹3 crore had already been spent on relief and medicines.
Ajmal Foundation’s work extends beyond floods to medical support, women’s empowerment, housing, education and assistance for vulnerable communities.
As Ajmal enters the Nagaon by-poll, his political influence will once again be tested. But his public profile extends beyond electoral politics, it combines a major family perfume business, political leadership and a long-running network of educational and charitable initiatives across Assam.
Support Independent Media
Click Here and Join the Membership of Millat Times to Support Independent Media.
Support Millat Times