Mass protest erupts in Borjhar against BTC expansion, villagers demand rollback

A CORRESPONDENT

DHEKIAJULI: In a powerful display of grassroots resistance, thousands of residents from Borjhar under Rawta staged a massive protest on Saturday against the recent expansion of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) constituencies. The inclusion of six Borjhar villages into the BTR, namely 1 No. Borjhar, 1 No. Darangbazar, 2 No. Darangbazar, 3 No. Darangbazar, 2 No. Borjhar, and Borjhar Grant triggered public outrage. The protest, held at Borjhar Ashram, echoed with slogans such as ‘Go Back Promod Boro Government’ and ‘Go Back BJP,’ as angry locals accused the UPPL-BJP alliance of manipulating the reorganization for political gains.

Of the six villages, four have been added to the Rauta Council constituency and two to the Pashnoi-Serfang constituency, following the restructuring of 81 new villages across Udalguri and Tamulpur districts. Residents highlighted that these villages were previously part of the 75 No. Borjhar Gaon Panchayat under Dalgon Council constituency, which was aligned with the 47 No. Majbat Assembly segment. Locals allege the latest bifurcation has been carried out without public consent, disrupting administrative identity and creating confusion.

Protesters demanded either restoration of the earlier 75 No. Borjhar Gaon Panchayat or the creation of a new VCDC (Village Council Development Committee) to ensure equitable development and representation. They also warned of a total boycott of the upcoming BTC Council elections if their demands were ignored. With over 7,500 Hindu Bengali voters in the area, residents claimed that BJP and UPPL were using the region for electoral benefits and exploiting the sentiments of the people through divisive tactics. They termed the move as political exploitation disguised as development and vowed to resist any further attempts to redraw boundaries for political convenience.

As tensions rose in Borjhar, the strong message from the protest was clear: stop dividing communities for votes or face consequences at the ballot box.

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