BTC elections to be two-way contest between MP Naba Sarania's party and UPPL?

Kokrajhar, March 7, 2020:

Kokrajhar MP Naba Sarania on March 7 opined that the Hagrama Mohilary-led Bodoland People's Front (BPF) party in a non-factor in the ensuing Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) polls, and claimed that the contest will be between Sarania's own party and the Pramod Boro led United People's Party Liberal (UPPL).

Sarania has also indicated that the days of Hagrama Mohilary as the apex political figure in the BTC area are soon coming to an end. The Kokrajhar MP also claimed that Hagrama's reign in the BTC is finished. He said, "I have said it is certain that Hagrama is gone. Either Pramod Boro or a Naba Sarania led group will win. Hagrama, if he contests, will only win 2-3 seats". The insurgent-turned-MP also prognosticated that the alliance between Hagrama's BPF and national party BJP is on shaky ground and will be "over" after the Rajya Sabha elections.

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Sarania said that in the forthcoming BTC elections, there will be instances of violence, citing the example of Khairul Haque, a BPF worker, who was shot dead. He further added that UPPL workers have been harrassing Bengali community members. Claiming that communalism is being stoked by certain parties, the Kokrajhar MP also claimed that locals are being doled out "free stuff" to influence voter behavior.

It needs mention here that amid blowing winds of political change ahead of the ensuing polls in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), another major shake-up in the political scenario has been witnessed. This time, National Democratic of Bodoland (Progressive) supremo Gobinda Basumatary has joined the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL). The NDFB leader joined on May 4, merely days after Pramod Boro's induction.

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