BPF to field 16 candidates in BTAD, will support BJP in 22 seats outside

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, February 10: Bodoland People’s Party (BPF) president Hagrama Mohilary told media persons on Wednesday that his party would field candidates in 16 constituencies inside BTC and would support the BJP candidates outside the council in the forthcoming assembly election. He said the BPF campaigned for the Congress candidates and made them win in the last assembly election in 22 seats outside BTC and this time, they would make sure that BJP candidates were victorious in these seats.

Mohilary said the BJP and BPF had come to a good understanding and they would fight together in the upcoming election to form a BJP-led government in Assam. He said the BPF had a meeting with BJP tiol president Amit Shah today prior to his attending the 14th Bodoland Day celebration and arrived at an understanding which was significant for both the parties. On the obstruction of pre-poll alliance with the BPF by some BJP leaders of BTC region, Mohilary said the BPF would contest in all 16 constituencies under BTC which was the fil decision of the party but it did not mean that the BJP of BTC region could not field candidates. He said the BJP of BTC region would have right to contest despite both the parties having arrived at an understanding but it would be a friendly contest. He also said the BPF would play a vital role in 22 seats outside BTC for the BJP which earlier, were held by Congress at the behest of BPF.

Replying to questions, the BPF president said the demand of the Congress to review the BTC accord was unfortute and surprising. He said the Congress had proved their actual stand on BTC through their demand of review on the accord which was signed by the Government of India, Assam Government and BLT under the perimeter of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. He also said if the Supreme Court had banned the distribution of blankets and yarn by the Congress to the public, the Congress should stop distribution and if they continue to do it, they should be arrested.

Meanwhile, the president of Kokrajhar district BJP Shibth Brahma in a press release said there had been separate meetings with BJP president Amit Shah today prior to celebration of 14th Bodoland Day. He said Shah made it clear that the BPF wouldl not field candidates in all seats in BTC region.  He also said some seats would be left for BJP to contest. It is to be noted that some heavyweight BPF leaders had deserted the party and joined the BJP with a view to get BJP tickets in the last council election and after being defeated and BPF’s pre-poll pact with the BJP, these leaders were becoming sinking boats and looking for a chance to join the Congress or other parties. Some of the former leaders who joined the BJP have already come to the fold of United People’s Party (UPP) supported by the ABSU.

On the other hand, the tiol president of the BJP, Amit Shah today made it clear that both BPF and BJP had come to an understanding to fight together in the ensuing assembly election to take over the power in Assam. He said BJP would fulfill all the aspirations of the people of Bodoland and Assam as per its vision document where Congress in the last 15 years had failed to address the problems of the region, besides pushing the State backwards.