Clamour for BPF party ticket in run–up to BTC polls

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, January 25: With the BTC election drawing close, many aspirants are lining up at the BPF party office to get a ticket. As many as 19 aspirants forwarded by the block level have submitted their applications to the president of BPF, Hagrama Mohilary till date and many more are in the line.

BPF president Hagrama Mohilary on January 20 said that this time the party would induct at least 10–15 fresh candidates.  He also said some of the public representatives had failed to perform as the people desired. After his announcement, the party workers in the grassroots have been doing their arithmetic to choose their candidate. In many constituencies, the block level leaders of the party sought replacements for most of the existing representatives of BTC due to their utter failure to work for the people.

In an interview, the president of Kokrajhar district BPF, rayan Chandra Basumatary said this year, the number of ticket applicants was far more than the previous years. He also said that it was up to the party high command to give tickets to the right candidates.

Mono Kr. Brahma, the existing EM of BTC from Bargaon constituency, after submitting his application along with hundreds of supporters told media persons that he was going to contest this time too from Bargaon for the third time. He said he had strong supporters and his victory was beyond doubt. He also said that he was hopeful of getting a party ticket. He further said that the BPF under Hagrama Mohilary would sweep the forthcoming BTC election and form the government.

On the other hand, a strong contender from the same constituency Rajiv Brahma, who is also one of the influential leaders of Ex–BLT Welfare Society, has submitted an application seeking party ticket. Brahma is an upcoming entrepreneur of Kokrajhar and has been working for public mobilization in many places under Bargaon constituency.

Dotma constituency is another most important constituency where a fresh ticket aspirant from Serfanguri, Bibhuti Borgoyary also submitted application for ticket on Sunday. Borgoyary said he was optimistic about getting a ticket. He also said he had many supporters to back him. With this application, as many as five aspirants have submitted applications for Dotma constituency. They are existing MCLA, Indra Mohan Brahma, ba Kr. Brahma, Dohit Brahma, Bibhuti Borgoyary and Sankarlal Basumatary.

In Salakati, existing EM of Education of BTC Derhasat Basumatary and Maloti Rani rzary, chairperson of Bodoland Regiol Apex Weavers and Artisan Federation (BRAWFED) and former leader of All Bodo Women’s Welfare Federation (ABWWF), have sought ticket while in Baokhungri constituency, the president of Women Wing of BPF, Uma Rani Basumatary has submitted application against the existing MCLA Doneswar Goyary who has already submitted application for ticket.

The BPF has been in power since 2005 in BTC and in every election, including assembly and parliamentary elections, it has had easy victory. But the trend is going to change this time as the ABSU and its allies, which are likely to back candidates, will prove a challenge for the BPF. The poor performance of EMs and MCLAs of BTC is another major factor for putting the party in troubled waters. Moreover, the fight within the party for tickets could further cause difficulties for the party high command.