Barpeta, Assam – The political landscape in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) is steadily heating up, even as the official dates for the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections remain unannounced. On July 24, Raijor Dal, spearheaded by its president and MLA Akhil Gogoi, made a significant show of strength with a large rally held at Milanbazar in Barpeta.
Addressing an enthusiastic crowd, Akhil Gogoi declared his party’s readiness for the impending BTC elections, issuing a fervent call for the populace to unite and unseat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from power in BTR. Gogoi’s speech was marked by a strong appeal to the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), urging them to forge an alliance against the BJP.
“The BJP must be ousted from the Bodoland Territorial Region by any means,” Gogoi asserted. “If the BPF and UPPL join hands, there will be no need for the BJP. The BJP has already done enough harm to BTR, and if allowed to stay, they will continue to destroy the region. They will swallow both BPF and UPPL. If BJP stays, BTR will go back to how things were before 2014. That should not happen.”
Gogoi also sounded a note of caution regarding potential eviction drives post-elections. “BJP might not carry out evictions before the election, but they surely will do so once it’s over. The BJP cannot be trusted.”
In a formal declaration, Gogoi announced Raijor Dal’s decision to contest the BTC elections. He chose Mathanguri in the Manas Assembly Constituency as the backdrop for this significant announcement. He articulated his party’s intent to contest a select number of seats, with the primary objective of amplifying the voices of the indigenous Assamese-speaking communities – both Hindu and Muslim – who, he believes, have been sidelined in the BTC council’s decision-making processes.
“These people, the original inhabitants of BTC, have been deprived of their land and resources,” Gogoi stated. “They deserve to be heard in the BTC council. Just like I raise their voices in the Assam Assembly, Raijor Dal wants to do the same in the council.”
Outlining a vision for economic development, Gogoi shared an innovative proposal for the region. He stated that if Raijor Dal emerges victorious in the area, they would establish a small industry dedicated to converting ripe bananas into powder and producing cereal flakes. He added that these flakes would be exported to the United States, thereby generating employment opportunities and income for local residents.
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