BTC election results may change political equation in Assam ahead of assembly polls

While BJP – the ruling party in Assam, is contesting against its own ally party Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), on the other hand opposition Congress and Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (BPF) are contesting as ally partners in the BTC elections.

Out of 40 constituencies of BTC, BJP is contesting in 26 constituencies and supported independent candidates in rest 14 seats.

The BTC election will be held in two phases and the first phase of election in Baksa and Udalguri district will be held on Dec 7 and second phase of election in Kokrajhar and Chirang district to be held on Dec 10.

From Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, state finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to many other BJP ministers, MPs, MLAs are campaigning for its candidates.

While the BJP ministers, MPs, MLAs have targeted BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary who ruled in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) in past one and half decades and attacked him in each election rally, the BPF chief has also attacked on BJP.

War of words between the BJP leaders and BPF leaders are continuing in this election which has been called as semi final of 2021.

Assam state BJP said in many occasions that, BJP will not renew its alliance with BPF in 2021.

Assam state BJP president Ranjit Kumar Dass said that, BJP is contesting solo in BTC election and contesting in 26 seats.

“We will get majority in BTC. We have given support to the independent candidates in which seats BJP is not contested. This BTC election is the semi final of 2021. We are doing work to strengthen our organization and BJP candidates will win in the assembly seats in BTAD. We have around 7 lakh karyakartas in BTAD. We are confident that, our party will win maximum seats in next assembly election,” Ranjit Kumar Dass said.

On the other hand, for the first time, Congress and AIUDF are contesting in election as an ally partner.

AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal and Congress leaders of the state have been seen in many election rallies of BTC as both parties have jointly campaigned for their candidates.

It is a significant indication of probable change in the state politics ahead of the assembly polls.

Talks between Congress and AIUDF are going on to make pre-poll alliance ahead of the assembly polls in the state.

AIUDF chief and Lok Sabha MP Badruddin Ajmal said that, his party is ready to make Mahagathbandhan alliance with Congress.

“We had tried to make alliance with Congress in previous elections also, but it was not happened for some reasons. Now we have jointly started election campaign in BTAD. Congress’s central leadership has instructed that, don’t talk about Mahagathbandhan. Congress will resolve their problems. We request them to make and continue Mahagathbandhan,” Badruddin Ajmal said.

A total of 23,82,036 voters of BTAD covered with four districts – Baksa, Udalguri, Kokrajhar and Chirang, will decide the fate of 241 candidates in BTC elections on December 7 and 10 and counting of votes will be held on Dec 12.