Guwahati: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its decision to go it alone in the forthcoming Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections, slated for September. The move was finalised at a high-level strategy meeting held on Thursday at the party’s state headquarters in Guwahati, attended by key figures including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and State BJP President Dilip Saikia.
Assam BJP Chief Spokesperson Kishore Upadhyay confirmed the party’s independent approach, stating that the BJP will field candidates across all 40 council constituencies. To galvanise support, a series of rallies are scheduled between August 2 and August 20, with CM Sarma, Sonowal, and Saikia set to tour and address public gatherings throughout the region.
This strategic decision by the BJP comes amidst a renewed emphasis on development and governance within the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). Just recently, on July 6, CM Sarma launched a slew of initiatives under the Bodoland Happiness Mission at a public event in Guwahati. These programmes, spearheaded by the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), are designed to cement peace and foster inclusive growth in the area.
At the launch, Sarma unveiled significant projects such as the BTR Communication Bridge, a multilingual guidebook spanning 18 regional languages, and “Transforming Bodoland,” a comprehensive report on the region’s developmental strides. He also released “Looking Within: My Reflections,” a memoir by BTC Chief Executive Member Pramod Boro, and presented the council’s annual performance report.
The Chief Minister also took the opportunity to confer the Bodoland Lifetime Achievers Award upon 18 individuals, acknowledging their contributions to preserving and promoting the vibrant folk traditions of the Bodo community. Speaking at the event, Sarma underscored that sustained peace and collaborative efforts among all 26 tribal communities have been instrumental in BTR’s progress over the past five years. He highlighted the remarkable transformation in BTR, a region once plagued by unrest since 1968, attributing it to collective endeavour, and urged all stakeholders to uphold the prevailing stability and harmony.
As the elections draw near, the BJP is anticipated to build its campaign around themes of robust governance, cultural preservation, and peace-building, aiming to present itself as the driving force for continued development in this historically significant region.