Congress ties up with UPP, gives 4 seats

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, March 6: Having spped ties with the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress today forged an alliance with BPF's rival United People's Party (UPP) led by former MP UG Brahma.

Announcing the tie-up, State Congress president Anjan Dutta said as part of the understanding with UPP, the Congress will not contest in four seats - Kokrajhar West, Kokrajhar East, Sidli and Chapaguri. Both the parties will go for "friendly contests" in nine seats, while decision on four other seats - Bongaigaon, Gauripur, Sarbhog and Bhabanipur - will be taken at a later date.

"BPF is the most corrupt party, while the BJP is the most commul. In order to prevent them from coming to power, we have tied up with the UPP," Dutta said.

When asked about the sudden bonhomie with the Congress - a party which it has always opposed - UPP president UG Brahma said, "In the last one month or so, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has done a lot for the Bodos."

"We are opposed to the BPF, that is why we were vocal against the Congress as they were partners. Now that the Congress is no longer with the BPF, we have decided to go with it," Brahma, who is contesting from Kokrajhar West constituency, said.

The UPP announced its candidates for ten seats: Samth rzary (Gossaigaon), UG Brahma (Kokrajhar West), Pratibha Brahma (Kokrajhar East), Rwngwra rzary (Sidli), Santosh Khaklary (Bijni), Hitesh Basumatary (Chapaguri), ndaram Boro (Paneri), Dili Boro (Udalguri), Babul Basumatary (Kalaigaon) and Rabindra Basumatary (Mazbat).

Meanwhile, Anjan Dutta said that on March 8, a number of "bigwigs" will join the Congress.

"A former AASU leader, leaders from AGP, BJP and AIUDF are among those who would join the Congress. On the same day, Koch Rajbongshi student leader Biswajit Rai will also join the Congress," he said.

Though Dutta did not me him, sources said that former AASU president Shankar Prasad Rai, who had recently joined the BJP, will cross over to the Congress, apparently disgruntled at the BJP setting aside the Bongaigaon seat - from where he was seeking ticket - for the AGP.