BTC Election: Clash in BPF Over Selection of Candidate, Workers Threaten Boycott of Polls

Kokrajhar, March 15, 2020:

Bodoland People's Front (BPF) workers on Sunday warned of boycotting the upcoming Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) polls over a difference in choice of candidate for Dihira constituency.

A day after the BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary announced the list of candidates who would contest the upcoming Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) polls, party workers opposed his choice of candidate for Dihira constituency, Rajesh Boral.

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According to the workers, Moonsing Brahma is the rightful candidate for the Dihira constituency as he is a known face. A lady party worker said, "We demand that our Sir, Moonsing Brahma be named as the candidate from our constituency. We had been toiling to make him win this constituency. Now all of a sudden, Sir Hagrma Mohilary cannot jump in with another name. He declared his name as a candidate without taking any report from any of the BPF wings. How can he do this?"

ALSO READ: BTC Polls: Bodoland People’s Front Releases Third List of Candidates

"We, from the women’s wing had been struggling for Moonsing Brahma. But unfortunately, a difference in opinion within the same party has shattered us now. Anyway, there is 24 hours now. Within this time frame, Rajesh Boral’s name should be withdrawn and Moonsing Brahma should be named as the candidate from Dihira constituency. He has time to think of favoring the candidate, whom the public loves," added the worker.

The party workers have warned of abstaining from voting in the BTC elections if Moonsing Brahma's name is not put forward as the candidate from Dihira. "If he does not, we will boycott the BTC elections. We will not vote in the upcoming elections. We will not vote for Rajesh Boral," warned the party worker.

The party workers, reportedly burned BPF's flag in protest of Rajesh Boral's naming as the candidate from Dihira. Boral is a party member belonging to the Gorkha, which is why the workers staged a protest on Sunday morning demanding the withdrawal of a non-Bodo's name from the candidate list.

ALSO READ: Kokrajhar Ready for BTC Polls, Final Dates & List of Polling Stations Announced

The workers have urged Hagrama Mohilary to include the name of Moonsing Brahma to rescue the party's future. This rift within the same party has come at a time when the date of BTC election is nearing.

BPF announced its second and third lists of candidates on Saturday. The BTC elections are scheduled to be held on April 4, 2020. As per an official notification, the last date for filing nominations is March 18. On March 19, there will be scrutiny of the nomination papers and soon after the candidatures are withdrawn on the last date of March 21, the final list will be published and accordingly BTC will go into polls on April 4.

The preliminary assessment of the polling areas shows that there are a total of 887 polling stations in these constituencies. Out of these, 242 are safe poll stations and 415 sensitive polling stations. Another round of review will be conducted within a week.

ALSO READ: BTC Polls: Bodoland People’s Front Releases Third List of Candidates

The parties and leaders of BTC have geared up for the upcoming BTC elections. Several members have swapped parties as well. Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been preparing for the elections. While the campaigns have begun in full swing, leaders have expressed full confidence of emerging as the winners.

Meanwhile, the joining of the leaders of the disbanded National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) has come up as the highlight of BTC elections. BR Ferenga and Gobinda Basumatary have joined hands with the UPPL with a promise to defeat the “demons of BTC politics”. Former All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) leader Pramod Boro also joined the UPPL to contest in the elections.

It is pertinent to mention here B Saoraigwra, the leader of the disbanded NDFB (S), after joining the BPF, has sworn his affiliation to the party. Talking to media persons after joining the BPF, the former rebel leader said, “If I get the privilege, I will do whatever is good for the public”, and has further claimed that 99.9 pc of the NDFB cadres are with him.

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