Guwahati: The political mercury in Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) has shot up with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announcing its decision to contest the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections alone.
On August 2, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will be in Udalguri district to formally launch the party’s campaign for the polls, which are expected in September. This move marks a significant departure from the 2020 elections, where the BJP, in an alliance with the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), formed the council government.
The party’s chief spokesperson for Assam, Kishore Upadhyay, confirmed that preparations for the solo fight are in full swing. He stated that while the party will field candidates in 38 of the 40 constituencies, it will not contest in two seats out of respect for two prominent Bodo leaders, Pramod Boro and former BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary. The decision to go it alone was reportedly finalized at a high-level strategy meeting held recently at the state BJP headquarters in Guwahati. This strategy reflects the party’s growing confidence and its aim to strengthen its hold in the Bodoland region.
Apart from CM Sarma, other heavyweights like Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and State BJP President Dilip Saikia are also slated to hit the campaign trail, addressing public rallies across the region. The Bodoland Territorial Council is a key body that governs the Bodoland Territorial Region, which comprises four districts—Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang, and Udalguri. The Assam State Election Commission recently published the draft electoral rolls, showing a total of 26,69,396 voters. With the 2026 Assam Assembly elections on the horizon, political observers are keenly watching the BTC polls, viewing them as a crucial litmus test for all regional political players.
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