Grand alliance will defeat BJP in Assam and form government, says former BJP ally BPF

A day after severing ties with BJP, Bodoland People's Front (BPF) on Sunday said Congress-led grand alliance will defeat the saffron party and form the next government in Assam.

"We all must remove BJP from power in order to save Assam. Situation in Assam is not what people wished for before voting BJP into power in 2016. BJP failed to protect constitutional rights of all communities. Today I can confidently say that Mahajat (grand alliance) will form the next government. We will get absolute majority," BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary told reporters, as his party formally joined the grand alliance.

Assembly elections in Assam are 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 respectively. BPF had three ministers in the Sarbananda Sonowal-led cabinet.

But the relation between BJP and BPF turned 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. 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 had last month tied up with Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front, three left parties and Anchalik Gana Morcha, another new regional party and formed the "grand alliance" with a target to unseat BJP and its allies. BPF's joining increased the number of parties in the grand alliance to seven.

Unclear stand on CAA

The grand alliance is flagging the CAA as the main poll plank against BJP but Hagrama on Sunday did not give a clear answer regarding his party's stand on CAA. "We will go with what people of Assam wants," Mohilary said to a question from DH on CAA.

CM candidate after polls

The "grand alliance" will not project a Chief Ministerial candidate before the polls and would take a decision after the results, AICC general secretary, Aniruddh Singh said when asked about CM candidate.