Forthcoming BTC polls most critical and crucial in history of Bodo belt

A CORRESPONDENT

TANGLA: The indefinite postponement of BTC polls due to the pandemic has been a blessing in disguise for the candidates of all the opposition parties as it has given them enough opportunity to campaign through social media and also by holding pocket meetings to reach out to a large number of voters.

The Bodo belt, which was one of the strongholds of Bodoland People's Front (BPF), now faces strong force from the Pramod Boro-led United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) ; the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) , Congress-AIUDF and Naba Sarania-led Gana Suraksha Party (GSP).

Political analysts and critics are of the view that it will not be a cake walk for the candidates in any of the 40 constituencies and the election will be one of the most critical and crucial polls in the history of the Bodo belt as it is being held just after the 3rd Bodo pact where all the factions of the armed rebel group NDFB had been one of the core signatories and they laid down arms, paving way for peace in the trouble-torn area. The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) had also done away with the separate statehood demand through the accord.

A political analyst, Zakir Hussain, who is closely monitoring the BTC polls, said, "The State BJP has been maintaining a soft approach towards both BPF and UPPL in BTC and is likely to participate in forming the council government with any party that secures majority."

Moreover, what has pricked the BPF leadership is that the BJP, with whom they continue to maintain alliance in Dispur despite multiple pleas, has decided to try its fate and fight the BTC polls solo.

Mangaldai Lok Sabha Member of Parliament, Dilip Saikia, Minister of State for Irrigation (Independent) Bhabesh Kalita and Golakganj MLA Ashwani Rai Sarkar are believed to have been given the responsibility to look after the strategic decisions to be taken to win the polls.

Pertinently, the Bodoland People's Front (BPF), with its 12 MLAs, is in alliance with BJP in Dispur and is in power ever since the formation of BTC in 2003. BPF romped back to power in the BTC council in 2015 for the third tenure winning 20 out of 40 seats in the council. BJP opened their account in the council with just one seat. In the 46-member council, 40 members are elected and six are nominated by the Governor from non-represented communities. 

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