BTR Election: After Hung House, Promod Boro to be the next CEM?

GUWAHATI: With the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) heading towards a hung house, all eyes are on the alliances that could be potentially forged, paving the way for a new administration in the Bodo-dominated region of Assam. At the end of a see-saw battle, the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) emerged as the single largest party, winning 17 Seats in the Council. Ever since electioneering began in the 40-member Council, Boro has been projected as the CEM candidate by the UPPL, which has emerged as the most formidable regional opponent of the BPF in the Bodo-dominated belt of Assam.

According to reports, the United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), which won 12 Seats, and the BJP, which won 9, are well on their way towards forming the next administration, with talks underway in the capital city Guwahati. Murmurs of a "secret understanding" between the two parties began ever since Himanta Biswa Sarma, during his campaign blitzkrieg in the BJP, urged voters to abandon the plough (the BPF symbol) and vote for the tractor (the UPPL symbol instead).

Meanwhile, senior BJP Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as well as State BJP President Ranjeet Dass have reached the Hotel Lily in Guwahati, where Boro is also present. Later, the UPPL Chief will be meeting Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at his residence in Guwahati.

At the same time, former Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary, who stepped down from his post after joining the saffron brigade, was projected as a potential candidate from the BJP side, as per insiders.

Boro, whose popularity in the BTR is unquestionable, could very well become the CEM at the end of the talks.

Boro earlier today stated that "development" will be his party's prime agenda, if it becomes a part of the ruling coalition.

Both the UPPL and BJP parties have resolved to implement the provisions of the BTR treaty signed earlier in the year, while BPF supremo and 3-time CEM Hagrama Mohilary has expressed skepticism.

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According to sources, the UPPL and BJP leaders convened a long meeting yesterday night, even as the counting for the votes went on.

Minister Pijush Hazarika, talking to media persons at the Hotel Lily, stated, "The party leadership shall take a concrete decision in this regard. As per my personal knowledge, the BJP, UPPL, and GSP parties seem to be headed towards forging an alliance. Within 1-2 hours, we will arrive at a conclusion as to the constituents of the new administration in the BTC. We are happy because we have made great strides. In the last election, we won a single Seat. This time, we won 12. Therefore, we have made significant inroads, which is a positive sign."

The much-awaited voting for the BTC began on December 7 with over 77.01 per cent voters exercising their franchise in the first phase of polling for 21 seats in Udalguri and Baksa districts, where 130 candidates have contested.

A total of 23,87,422 voters in the two phases exercised their franchise to elect their representatives for the local council, formed in 2003 and elections being held since 2005.

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