Kokrajhar: The political race for the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections intensified on Sunday as the ruling United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) and its key rival, the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), announced their candidates for all 40 constituencies.
UPPL Chief Executive Member Pramod Boro will contest from two seats—Goibari and Dotoma—while his predecessor and BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary will also fight from two segments, including Chirang Duar and Debargaon, setting up a high-profile showdown between the two leaders.
The council polls are scheduled for September 22.
The last date for filing nominations is September 2, with scrutiny on September 4 and withdrawal of names allowed till September 6.
Repolling, if necessary, will take place on September 24, and results will be declared on September 26.
UPPL, which currently leads the BTC in alliance with the BJP and Gana Suraksha Party (GSP), finalized its remaining six names late Sunday.
Former deputy CEM Kampa Borgoyari will contest from Debargaon, where he will face Mohilary in a direct battle. The party had earlier named Borgoyari for Chirang Duar.
The BPF, which ruled the BTC from its inception in 2005 until being unseated in 2020, also declared its full list on the same night.
Among its candidates are Azamul Hoque from Fakiragram, Maneswar Brahma from Baganpara, and Jagadish Sarkar from Mwdwibari.
While the Congress has already fielded nominees for all 40 seats, the BJP has announced names for 28 constituencies and is likely to add a few more.
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The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has so far named candidates for four seats.
Despite being allies in the BJP-led coalition government in Assam, the UPPL, BJP, and AGP will contest the BTC elections independently.
In the previous polls, the BPF emerged as the largest party with 17 seats, while the UPPL secured 12, BJP nine, and GSP one.
This year’s election will cover 40 constituencies spread across Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Tamulpur, and Udalguri districts.
The electorate comprises 26,57,937 registered voters, including 13,34,521 women, and polling will take place at 3,359 stations.
