PTI
   
Lucknow, May 16: Encouraged by electoral success of of nascent Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) comprising Muslim bodies, Muslim politcial outfits and noted scholars of the community in Uttar Pradesh on Monday launched a political party Peoples' Democratic Front (PDF) and decided to contest assembly polls next year.

"The PDF with Shahi Imam of the Delhi Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari as its patron has been launched with a view to enabling the Muslims to share power on the basis of their distinct electoral strength", President of the Front and noted Shia scholar Maulana Kalbe Jawwad told newsmen here.

He said PDF would be fielding its candidates in the next assembly elections in the state as there are 147 constituencies in UP where Muslims can ensure victory of their candidates.

Jawwad said though Bukhari was supposed to be present at the press conference here, he could not turn up as he missed his morning flight.

He said the decision to form a separate political outfit was arrived at a meeting of various smaller Muslim outfits like Muslim Majlis, All India Muslim Forum, Parcham Party of India, Indian League and Momin Conference.

Jawwad said the doors of PDF were open to other Muslim outfits also and it would align with like-minded parties on the basis of their committment to muslim emancipation.

The Muslim politcial parties "have derived vigour and inspiration from the recently held assembly elections in Assam where a similar Muslim outfit has won significant number of seats on the basis of its own strength", he said.

The AUDF won ten seats in Assam polls.