Unity cry in Bodo belt as Hagrama, Rabiram join hands

BPPF dissolved, rzary declared candidate for Kokrajhar West constituency

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, Jan 17: Two powerful and prominent Bodo leaders - Rabiram rzary who had been leading Bodoland People's Progressive Front (BPPF), the first political party formed after creation of BTC and Hagrama Mohilary, the president of Bodoland People's Front (BPF), joined hands on Sunday after a decade of bitter rivalry.

The union of the two leaders had a lyrical note as Rabiram rzary, who was born near River Swrmanga and Hagrama Mohilary, who was born near River Gaurang, today joined hands at the historic Thulungapuri near the River Longa. All these three rivers are known to have "historical rhythms" in three different constituencies and River Longa is still regarded as the most romantic, having poetic charms while Swrmanga and Gaurang are considered mighty.

BPPF president Rabiram rzary and party general secretary Dilu Sharma joined the BPF and declared the dissolution of the BPPF. rzary handed over the BPPF flag to BPF president Hagrama Mohilary. Ten district committees of the BPPF and hundreds of supporters attended the unification programme. BTC chief and BPF president Hagrama Mohilary and other BPF leaders and supporters welcomed the new party members.

Addressing the gathering, rzary termed the move as "a historical grand political unification" of the two political parties in the Bodo belt, which, he said, was the "most acceptable decision" for the citizens for the greater interest and development of the people and BTC region. He said also the unification move was necessary as "BTC is going through a political crisis at present". He also called upon the tiolist social organizations of the community to work for unification of various warring political parties for the greater interest of the people and development of the BTC region.

Welcoming the BPPF leaders and workers to the party, BPF president Hagrama Mohilary announced Rabiram rzary's me as the party candidate in the upcoming assembly election from Kokrajhar West LAC. Mohilary also announced Milan Boro as the party candidate from Bhabanipur LAC. With this, the BPF has declared all the 16 candidates the party is fielding in the coming Assam assembly election in BTAD. Mohilary expressed confidence that the party would win in all the 16 seats and form the next government in Dispur along with the BJP.

Meanwhile, the president of the United Bodo People's Organization (UBPO) Mihiniswar Basumatary said the reunification of the BPF and BPPF is a welcome development. Hailing the merging of rzary's BPPF with the BPF for the greater interest of the people of the region, Basumatary said Bodo leaders who were moving away from each other due to ideological differences should also come back and unite for the cause of the people of the region.

The unification meeting was also attended by the Deputy chief of BTC, Kampa Borgoyary, former Minister Chandan Brahma, Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary, BPF MLAs, BTC EMs and other senior party leaders.