BPF -BJP alliance in Assam only after talks with Modi

The tribal political parties in Assam who were seen inching towards the BJP even a few weeks back have now decided to weigh the pros and cons of a pre poll alliance with the saffron party ahead of the crucial 2016 assembly polls in the state.

The Bodoland People’Front (BPF) chief Hagrama Mohilary on Wednesday said that his party would take the final call of alliance with BJP only after meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is slated to visit Assam on January 19 next year.

“Prime Minister Modi will visit the Bodoland headquarters in Kokrajhar on January 19 next year. We have earlier promised that he will announce some financial package for the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts. We will discuss several issues with him including the ensuign polls and after that come to a final decision” said Mohilary during a party rally in Chirang district of lower Assam.

Mohilary also hinted that inside the Bodo dominated areas BPF might fight alone but in other areas it might support the BJP, should a formal alliance is not arrived at.

Mohilary’s party was an alliance partner with the ruling congress for 13 years and part of the government as well, but it came out of the alliance in 2014 after relations started to strain since the 2012 ethnic riots in bodoland.

Mohilary has been the architect behind the newly formed nine tribal and indigenous organisations front.