BTC: BJP, UPPL and GSP join hands to keep BPF out

In Assam, the BJP has extended its support to the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) and Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) to stake claim in the Bodoland Territorial Council. UPPL chief Pramod Boro will become the new BTC chief, said Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday, after a crucial meeting held among representatives of the three political parties. Soon after the announcement, BJP minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, “A New dawn in BTR. “

Despite being an alliance partner in Assam government, the BPF and the BJP contested the 40-seat BTC polls separately after Sarma announced that their alliance was only for 2016 assembly polls. In elections, the BPF got 17 seats, the UPPL secured 12 seats and the BJP nine. The Congress and the GSP won one seat each, according to final results released on Sunday. BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary, on the other hand, sought BJP’s support.

The BTC poll was conducted following a fresh Bodo Accord that was signed by the four factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in New Delhi on January 27. The poll was conducted in four districts of the Bodoland Territorial Region including Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksha and Udalguri. Over 23,00,000 electorates exercised their franchise in the election.The poll was supposed to be held on April 4 but the schedule was deferred to March 20 following the Covid-19 pandemic. The term of the House ended on April 27 and the Council administration went under the Governor’s rule.