BJP, UPPL, BPF chart solo paths ahead of BTC polls amid shifting equations

A CORRESPONDENT

TANGLA: As the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections draw closer, the Bodo belt has been witnessing heightened political manoeuvring, with major parties banking on grassroots strength, leadership credibility, and strategic planning to reshape the political equations of Bodoland.

The three major political parties Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) are likely to contest the majority of the 40-seat council independently. The move signals a clear departure from pre-poll alliance politics and reflects evolving power dynamics in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

The BJP, which had allied with the UPPL in the 2020 BTC elections to form the ruling council, has now opted to go solo. Marking the launch of its campaign from Udalguri, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma underlined the party’s confidence in securing a majority on its own, citing strong governance, expanded grassroots presence, and public trust, along with senior top guns of BJP who toured the five districts of BTR. In line with this aggressive electoral push, the BJP leaders are contemplating to fight the upcoming polls without disappointing their ally UPPL which is a partner in the council, and the BPF with whom they have maintained a cordial relation.

Interestingly, while the BJP has decided to go solo for now, the party is tactically keeping its doors open for both UPPL and BPF as the saffron party is contemplating to partner with any party which secures the absolute mandate of the people. Sources in the party hinted that the party may consider a post-poll alliance depending on the final numbers. This openness reflects BJP’s pragmatic approach to ensure continuity of governance in BTC and to keep all options on the table in a potentially fractured verdict scenario.

Meanwhile, the UPPL, led by BTC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pramod Boro, has also kickstarted its campaign across all five BTR districts. A senior UPPL leader from Udalguri emphasized that seat-sharing would diminish the party’s growing influence in constituencies like Bhergaon, Khalingduar, and Bhairabkunda, signalling their intent to retain their political identity. The BPF, under the leadership of Hagrama Mohilary, is also preparing for a solo contest, seeking a political resurgence after its 2020 defeat.

Political observers noted that the absence of a pre-poll alliance reflected tactical seat-level calculations. In the previous BTC elections, BPF had won 17 seats, UPPL 12, and BJP 9 while the Naba Sarania led Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) had secured 1 seat in the 40 seat council. The BJP-UPPL post-poll alliance had kept the BPF out of power. “No pre-poll pact allows each party to test its ground strength. But a post-poll alliance is a likely outcome, depending on the numbers,” said a senior BJP leader of Udalguri.

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