BJP Prepares for Upcoming BTC Elections in Bodoland Region
BJP Intensifies Preparations for BTC Elections
Chirang, July 3: As the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections approach in September, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is ramping up its efforts across the five districts within the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
Party officials are conducting review meetings to gauge local support, with plans to contest the elections independently.
On Thursday, Kaushik Rai, the Barak Valley Development Minister, visited Chirang district to engage with party workers and volunteers ahead of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s scheduled visit on July 9.
After the discussions, Bijni MLA Ajoy Kumar Ray informed the media that the party intends to contest all seven seats in Chirang independently.
“We will maintain camaraderie post-BTC elections, but our current plan is to run solo,” Ray stated, indicating that a pre-poll alliance seems unlikely at this moment.
“At this point, we cannot confirm the existence of an alliance. We have been instructed to prepare for an independent contest, and we are following through,” he added.
Earlier, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reiterated the party's commitment to contest the BTC elections on its own.
“BTC elections differ from Assembly and Parliamentary elections. Typically, all political parties participate independently in these elections,” Sarma remarked during a press briefing in Udalguri.
He noted that alliances might be reconsidered as Assembly or general elections draw nearer.
The Chief Minister also mentioned that a final decision regarding the number of seats the BJP will contest has not yet been made.
“There is still time for that. Previously, we contested 26 seats. This time, we will deliberate more carefully. Our party president Dilip Saikia will guide us on the seat-sharing strategy,” he explained.
Emphasizing the importance of peace in the region, Sarma stressed that political ambitions should not disrupt the hard-won stability in BTR.
“Elections will come and go, but preserving peace in the BTR is essential. The political process should never jeopardize the region’s harmony. If peace is maintained, elections will proceed smoothly,” the Chief Minister concluded.
Currently, the BJP shares power in the BTC with its regional ally, the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL). However, indications of a potential solo campaign this time suggest a strategic shift by the ruling party ahead of the elections.