Bodoland Territorial Council polls: BJP confident of keeping its winning streak intact

GUWAHATI: The Bodoland Territorial Council ( BTC) in Assam goes to the polls next month, with the three main political entities in the state each going their own way to win the elections.

The Congress party, which rules Assam, is trying to re-establish itself in Bodoland, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking to extend its success during the Lok Sabha and civic elections. The Bodoland People’s Front, which has ruled the council for two consecutive terms, is facing anti-incumbency. Several cadres from the BPF recently joined the BJP.

“We could not perform as per the ex-ZAHID pectation of the people in the five years of our second tenure in comparison to our first five years of rule in BTC,” BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary said. Militant-turned-politician Mohilary alleged that some party leaders did not maintain good relations with the masses. Last year, the BPF snapped ties with the Congress and pulled out its ministers from the Tarun Gogoi-led state government.

Despite feelers from the BPF for an alliance, the BJP has chosen to go alone for the polls of the 40-member council, scheduled on April 8. “Development has been crippled in BTC. The people are looking for a political change,” Assam BJP president Siddhartha Bhattacharjee said.