Congress ally BPF sends 11 candidates overseas to prevent 'horse-trading'

GUWAHATI: Following in the All India United Democratic Front's (AIUDF) footsteps, the Hagrama Mohilary-led Bodoland People's Front (BPF) has also shifted its candidates amid fears of horse-trading by the Bharatiya Janata Party before the announcement of results of the tightly contested Assam elections on May 2.

According to reports, as many as 11 BPF candidates contesting the polls have been sent overseas. They are being accompanied by 16 Members of Council (MCLAs). The only candidate left behind is minister Pramila Rani Brahma, a 6 time sitting MLA from the Kokrajhar East constituency.

The current location of the candidates has been kept a secret to prevent the saffron party from reaching out, sources said.

Speculation about the BPF candidates' shifting began yesterday after party supremo Hagrama Mohilary called for a meeting at 3:30 pm in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Congress-led mahajot's members have expressed the need to exercise caution lest the BJP attempt to lure their candidates away.

"We must express caution so that we can all be free of the BJP-s anti-democracy efforts. (...) In the past, we have seen that the BJP will go to any lengths for a Congress-free India. In defiance of the Constitution, they have barred us from forming governments in Goa, Manipur, Sikkim," said Congress' Nazira MLA Devabrata Saikia.

The Congress party is also said to be mulling a similar move.

Journalist-turned-politician Ajit Kumar Bhuyan has claimed that the BJP party is 'crestfallen' because of the opposition's move to send its candidates away.

"There have been murmurs in many media that they could indulge in the buying of MLAs. The BJP can stoop very low and indulge in conspiracies to stay in power. That is why they (candidates) have been sent away. We have got to know that the BJP is really crestfallen because of this," he said.

Meanwhile, members of the BJP-led 'mitrajoot' alliance seem to have interpreted this move as a 'lack in trust' in candidates.

Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Atul Bora, talking to media persons today, branded the entire episode as a drama.

"We have nominated candidates that we have trust in. If they feel that their candidates can be bought and sold -- how are they expected to do what's best for the people? This is all drama."

About 20 candidates of the Congress-led alliance of Opposition parties in Assam were shifted to a luxury hotel near Jaipur on Friday.

The candidates included those from the Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and the Left parties.

Follow us on Facebook