BJP gears up to contest Assam's Bodoland council polls against allies

Guwahati: The ensuing elections to the 40-member Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in Assam is likely to be a battle between ruling BJP and its present ally, United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) and former partner, Bodoland People's Front (BPF).

BJP is at present a minor partner in the UPPL-led council while BPF is in the Opposition. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that BJP will contest the polls on its own with a target to be in command of the BTC for "proper development" of its citizens. "We can contest the polls in alliance with either BPF and UPPL but decided not to do so keeping in mind development of the BTC. BJP is in power both in the state and the Centre, but we can not implement our decisions for development of BTC as we are not in command of the council," Sarma said suggesting that UPPL did not allow the saffron party to dictate terms.

UPPL has been a part of the BJP-led government at the state since 2021 while BPF was an ally of the Sarbananda Sonowal-led government between 2016 and 2021. BPF, which parted ways just before the 2021 Assembly elections, however, rumoured to have repaired its ties with Himanta Biswa Sarma government.

A senior leader in UPPL said they were planning to contest in all 40 seats. BPF is likely to field candidates only where it is strong. Sources in BJP said although it's target was to form the council on its own, the party may take BPF as a partner in case it falls short of the majority.

Peace and development:

The BJP and UPPL joined hands after a new Bodoland Accord was signed in 2020. Militant groups, which kept the Bodoland region troubled for over four decades, had laid down their weapons while All Bodo Students' Union gave up the agitation for a separate Bodoland state. CM Sarma on Tuesday said, "In the last five years, we brought lasting peace to Bodoland and in the next five years, we want to concentrate more on development and equality to all its citizens. Therefore, we want BJP to be in power, both in BTC and at Dispur (state capital).

The political equation in BTC polls is significant ahead of Assembly elections slated early next year. Bodoland region has 12 Assembly seats and a party from the region has been a partner in the state government for long. The BTC was formed under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for welfare of the region comprising Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Udalguri and Tamulpur districts in Northern and western Assam.

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi recently said the party, which won only one seat in BTC in 2021, was expecting a better result this time. Congress plans to contest in all 40 seats.