We don't want to sit on the Opposition bench: Prabin Boro

BJP-BPF bonhomie on revival track

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The political gossip mill at Dispur has gone on overdrive yet again on the possible understanding between the BJP and its former ally BPF. The Hagrama Mohilary-led party has made it clear again that it does not want to be on the opposition bench as that denies it to be part of the development in the state and the BTR.

Talking to The Sentinel, BPF general secretary Prabin Boro said, "We have informed the BJP recently again that we don't want to sit on the Opposition bench. We want to be part of the development of the state and the BTR (Bodoland Territorial Region). We don't want to sit on the opposition bench. It is difficult to involve ourselves in the development process from the opposition bench. We have informed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of this. He let us know that he wants to work for the development of the state by taking all. It is now up to the Chief Minister to take the final decision.

"We have three legislators in the current state assembly. They face difficulties in engaging themselves in the development process from the opposition bench."

When asked about the would-be situation in the BTC (Bodoland Territorial Council), Bora said, "The BPF should have formed the BTC. However, we could not form it due to some misunderstanding. The UPPL leads the Council, not the BJP. Though we want to sit on the treasury bench in the state Assembly, we will continue to sit on the opposition bench in the BTC."

Sources said that BPF leaders had several rounds of talks with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and state BJP president Bhabesh Kalita in the past few days. A gossip goes that two Rajya Sabha seats will fall vacant from Assam shortly, and the BJP-led coalition falls short of a few members to win both the seats. Thus, the optimists see a possible understanding between the BJP and the BPF before the Rajya Sabha poll.

The BPF fought the last Assembly election as an ally of the Congress-led grand alliance. However, it severed its ties with Congress after the poll result.

The BPF was also an ally of the Sarbananda Solowal-led BJP government in the state. It had three ministers in the Sonowal Cabinet. However, they broke the alliance in the last BTC election.

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