BJP to Contest Four Seats in Bodoland, BPF and UPPL to Negotiate Remaining 11: CM Sarma
In a significant announcement regarding the upcoming assembly elections in Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest only four of the 15 seats in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). The remaining 11 seats will be subject to discussions and an understanding between the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL).
Seat-Sharing Strategy Unveiled in Bajali
CM Sarma made this declaration on Monday while attending the final day of the second phase of the BJP’s Jan Ashirwad Yatra in Bajali district. He emphasized that the BPF, which has recently rejoined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after a five-year hiatus, will forge an alliance with UPPL, not directly with the BJP. As the larger party in the region, BPF will contest 11 seats, while BJP will focus on four. Any seat-sharing agreements for those 11 constituencies will be negotiated exclusively between BPF and UPPL.
It is important to note that the Bodoland Territorial Region comprises 15 assembly seats spread across five districts: Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Tamulpur, and Udalguri. These seats are part of the total 126 assembly constituencies in Assam.
Historical Context of Alliances
The BPF, led by Hagrama Mohilary, was an ally of the BJP during the 2016 assembly elections. However, the alliance was not continued in the 2021 polls, when the Pramod Boro-led UPPL entered the NDA fold. The return of BPF to the NDA for the upcoming elections marks a strategic shift in the political landscape of Assam.
AGP Seat-Sharing Talks Concluded
Regarding another key ally, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which has been with the BJP for the past decade, CM Sarma stated that seat-sharing discussions have been completed. The outcomes have been forwarded to the BJP’s central committee for approval. Details of the seat-sharing arrangement with AGP will be announced once the central committee gives its nod.
Jan Ashirwad Yatra Concludes Second Phase
CM Sarma participated in the Jan Ashirwad Yatra after offering prayers at the Bamakhata Satra in Bajali district. This event marked the conclusion of the second phase of the yatra, which commenced on March 5. Over this phase, the yatra traversed through multiple districts, including Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Tinsukia, Nalbari, and Bajali.
Reflecting on the yatra, Sarma expressed gratitude for the overwhelming public support. He asserted that the yatra has demonstrated the BJP government’s commitment to working in the interest of the people and the state over the last five years. The immense blessings received during the yatra, according to Sarma, are a testament to the government’s pro-people initiatives and developmental work.
