UPPL to contest all Bodoland seats in Assam polls, open to alliance talks: Pramod Boro

Bodoland Territorial Council chief and United People’s Party Liberal president Pramod Boro on February 4 said his party has decided to contest all Assembly seats in the Bodoland Territorial Region in the upcoming Assam elections, along with a few constituencies outside the region, citing clear public opinion in favour of an expanded electoral contest.

Speaking on the party’s poll strategy, Boro said the UPPL remains open to alliances and is holding discussions with various political parties. “People’s opinion is clear that UPPL should contest the election, therefore, we have decided to contest the elections on all seats in Bodoland and a few outside. We are open for alliance and we will discuss it with other political parties,” he said.

Boro clarified that the UPPL continues to be in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party at the state and national levels, at least until the declaration of the Model Code of Conduct. He said talks are underway not only with the BJP but also with other parties to explore possible seat-sharing arrangements.

“At the same time, we are prepared to contest alone if the situation demands,” the BTC chief added, underlining the party’s readiness to go solo if alliance negotiations do not yield a consensus.

The UPPL emerged as a key political force in the Bodoland Territorial Region after the 2020 Bodo Peace Accord and currently heads the BTC administration. Boro’s statement signals the party’s intent to play a more assertive role in Assam’s state-level politics in the forthcoming Assembly elections.