Assam: Over 700 UBPO members, including president Mihiniswar Basumatary, join ruling BJP party

Guwahati: Over 700 dignitaries and members of the United Bodo People's Organization (UBPO) joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a grand ceremony held in Guwahati's Srimanta Sankardeva Kalashetra. Assam's Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and party president Ranjeet Kumar Dass were present to induct the Bodo leaders into the saffron party.

Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal welcomed the 700-plus UBPO members into the BJP and exhorted them to take the message of unity to each of the 33 districts in the state. The CM added that the journey towards progress should be made by taking each of the myriad tribes and communities of the state along.

Education, Finance, and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the UBPO workers. "This has strengthened the BJP party and we have been able to create a forum for doing some significant works."

Sarma added that when the Bodo Accord (2020) was signed, the central leadership of the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, had resolved that under the treaty, Bodos living both within and outside the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) would be safeguarded and their rights protected.

This development comes days after the Assam Cabinet decided that a Bodo Kachari Autonomous Welfare Council (BKAWC) constituted outside the 6th schedule area. The creation of the BKAWC has been one of the long-standing demands of the UBPO.

"The BJP party has assured us of the creation of a Bodo Kachari Autonomous Welfare Council, which is why we have joined the party," said UBPO president Mihiniswar Basumatary, moments after joining the saffron party.

"We're glad to have welcomed Sri Mihineswar Basumatary, President UBPO, 21 state committee members, district presidents & over 700 members to @BJP4Assam in presence of HCM @sarbanandsonwal, BJP President @RanjeetkrDass," Biswa Sarma, after welcoming the Bodo leaders, said in a tweet.

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