In the Sixth Schedule area of Bodoland, the BJP is caught in a dilemma. The party has declared that it will contest the upcoming council polls in September on its own. However, the BJP is currently a partner in the council, where the regional party United Peoples' Party-Liberal (UPPL) is leading. Another party - the Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF), which is in Opposition in the council - is supporting the NDA government in Assam.
There is also a move underway to unite both UPPL and BPF.
The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), which has 40 council seats, is expected to go to polls in September this year. BTR falls under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. This election assumes significance as it will be the last before next year's assembly polls in Assam.
Though elections have not been officially announced, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been addressing public rallies in Bodoland almost every day for the past few weeks. He has maintained that he is gauging the pulse of the people in the region. In his campaign, Sarma has stated that bringing peace to BTR is the single biggest achievement of the BJP government. "Ever since there has been a BJP government in Delhi and Dispur, not a single person has died due to firing of bullets," he said.
The 2020 election to the 40-member council resulted in a fractured mandate, with the BPF emerging as the single largest party with 17 seats. However, the BJP and UPPL, supported by the Gana Suraksha Party, formed the council government. The lone Congress member later left the party and joined the BJP.
The BJP won nine seats, and UPPL secured 12. Later, a BPF member also joined the BJP. Political analysts noted that while there are 12 assembly seats in Bodoland, there are over three other seats outside BTR where Bodo votes form the majority. The BJP is keeping post-poll options open with both UPPL and BPF.
There is also a move underway to unite both UPPL and BPF.
The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), which has 40 council seats, is expected to go to polls in September this year. BTR falls under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. This election assumes significance as it will be the last before next year's assembly polls in Assam.
Though elections have not been officially announced, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been addressing public rallies in Bodoland almost every day for the past few weeks. He has maintained that he is gauging the pulse of the people in the region. In his campaign, Sarma has stated that bringing peace to BTR is the single biggest achievement of the BJP government. "Ever since there has been a BJP government in Delhi and Dispur, not a single person has died due to firing of bullets," he said.
The 2020 election to the 40-member council resulted in a fractured mandate, with the BPF emerging as the single largest party with 17 seats. However, the BJP and UPPL, supported by the Gana Suraksha Party, formed the council government. The lone Congress member later left the party and joined the BJP.
The BJP won nine seats, and UPPL secured 12. Later, a BPF member also joined the BJP. Political analysts noted that while there are 12 assembly seats in Bodoland, there are over three other seats outside BTR where Bodo votes form the majority. The BJP is keeping post-poll options open with both UPPL and BPF.
