Guwahati: War lines have been drawn for the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections in Assam, seen as a precursor for next year’s assembly elections in the northeastern state.
The elections are expected to see a deep competition between the ruling United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), which was earlier in power.
Elections for 40 -member BTC, which controls administration in five districts, will take place on 22 September. Around 2.6 million voters are eligible to vote for the BTC pole. Votes will be counted on 26 September.
UPPL and BPF have announced candidates for all 40 seats.
The UPPL is part of the ruling alliance under the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the state level – BJP and Asom Gana Parishad are the other two constituents. But the three parties are contesting elections in separate council elections.
The BJP has nominated candidates and AGP in four seats in 28 seats.
The Congress has also named 40 candidates.
On Monday, prominent candidates, including the current Chief Executive Member (CEM) of BTC, from the UPPL, Pramod Boro and his predecessor BPF Hagrama Mohalri filed their nominations.
While Boro is contesting from two seats – Gobri and Dotoma – Their staunch rival Mohali is also contesting from two seats; Debaragaon (where he will be raised against UPPL’s ​​Deputy Cam Kampa Borgani) and Chirang Duar.
“My partner UPPL candidates were included in the Grand Nomination Filing ceremony in Tamulpur district today. BTR has widespread support for the UPPL model of politics, and with the hard work of People’s blessings and our workers, we will win the BTR election in 2025.”
BPF Mohalri told reporters that he was convinced to return to power after five years. He said, “This will be a good choice for BPF as people are coming in large numbers to support us and with their blessings we will re -form the next government in BTC,” he said.
The BJP is facing some resistance to the candidates’ choice of candidates in Koklabari and Baganpara.
In Koklabari, the party has given ticket to Ramen Mada, which was shot by the police in November 2023 in an encounter in connection with a land grabbing case. In Baganpara, some BJP workers have opposed the candidature of Rekha Rani Das Boro and threatened to keep a rebel candidate.
In the last BTC elections, BPF won 17 seats and emerged as the largest party, remembering the majority mark from only four seats. But UPPL, in which 12 seats were won and BJP, who received 9, was able to form the government with the support of a Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) winner, he took his joint tally to 22.
