Assam Assembly Elections: Former BJP ally BPF joins Congress-led 'grand alliance' with Opposition parties

Assam Assembly elections in Assam is scheduled to be held in three phases on March 27, April 1 and April 6

Bodoland People's Front (BPF), a former ally of BJP in Assam on Saturday decided to join the Congress-led "grand alliance" of the Opposition parties for next month's Assembly elections.

"To work for peace, unity, and development and to bring a stable government, free from corruption in Assam, the Bodoland Peoples’ Front (BPF) has decided to join and become a stakeholder of MAHAJATH (grand alliance). BPF shall no longer maintain friendship or alliance with BJP. In the forthcoming Assam Assembly election, the BPF shall work hand in hand with the Mahajath," BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary posted in Facebook on Saturday evening.

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Assembly elections in Assam is scheduled to be held in three phases on March 27, April 1 and April 6.

BJP had tied up with BPF and AGP in 2016 and formed its first government in Assam. BJP got 60 seats while AGP and BPF bagged 14 and 12 seats each. BPF had three ministers in the Sarbananda Sonowal-led cabinet.

But the relation between BJP and BPF turned to soar when BJP "dumped" BPF after the elections of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), an autonomous council in December last year. BJP supported UPPL, another regional force in the Bodoland and together formed the new council after the election. BJP did not extend support to BPF even if it emerged as the single largest party.

BJP has decided to ally with UPPL and AGP for the Assembly elections.

Congress tied up with Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front, left parties and another new regional party and formed the "grand alliance" last month with a target to unseat BJP and its allies. They are flagging CAA as the main poll plank against BJP.

Congress said BPF's decision would provide more strength to the grand alliance. A BJP leader, however, rejected such a possibility saying the saffron party had earlier made its stand clear that it would not renew its ties with BPF, mainly due to "rampant corruption" committed during its 15-year term in BTC.