Assam Congress President Ripun Bora urges Hagrama Mohilary's BJP to join 'Grand Alliance'

GUWAHATI: Assam Congress President Ripun Bora today called on Bodoland People's Front (BPF) leader Hagrama Mohilary to join the Congress-led Maha Gathbandhan (or Grand Alliance).

Talking to Inside Northeast, Bora said, "We are calling upon Hagrama-led BPF to join the Congress' grand alliance ahead of the polls in the BTC region. In fact, all like-minded parties should join the alliance head of the polls."

Earlier, Bora had asked the new regional parties in the state -- Asom Jatiya Parishad and Raijor Dal -- to join the grand alliance to topple the BJP from the power corridors of Dispur. The BJP has the syupport of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Assam's largest regional party that was formed at the end of the six-years-long anti-foreigner agitation.

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Bora's invitation to Hagrama comes amid a growing rift between BJP and BPF -- which are part of the ruling alliance in Dispur. The BJP has directly challenged Hagrama's might in his Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) by nominating 26 candidates to contest in the ensuing Council polls. The saffron party is confident of its chances. Hagrama, on the other hand, claims that the war of words between him and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma is based on an "understanding."

Assam Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday exuded confidence that the BJP would form the Bodo Territorial Council after winning the upcoming election in Bodo Territorial Region in lower Assam.

Addressing an election rally at Salakati in Kokrajhar district, Sarma said: "this time there will be a BJP government at Kokrajhar because the people of this region has decided for speedy development of this region with good governance."

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