BJP plans to expand domination in NE’s tribal areas as well: Analysts

By Sujit Chakraborty Guwahati/Agartala, Dec 14 : The BJP has dumped its old ally in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) polls in Assam and ignored its partner’s willingness to share seats in the upcoming polls in Tripura tribals’ autonomous body aiming to strengthen its domination on its own in the tribal areas of northeastern region, political observers say.
In the BTC polls, held last week, the Bharatiya Janata Party, which heads Assam’s ruling coalition, entered resoundingly into the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) comprising four districts — Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri – by wining nine seats in the 40-member council as against one in 2015.
It fought against the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) despite ruling Assam together since 2016 along with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).
The Hagrama Mohilary-led BPF, which has been ruled the BTC ever since 2005 after the tribal autonomous body was constituted in 2003 as a political solution to Bodo agitation for a separate state, won 17 seats this time while UPPL (United People’s Party Liberal) got 12 seats. The opposition Congress and Gana Suraksha Parishad managed to get one seat each.
The BJP after the outcome of the BTC polls on Sunday, dumped the BPF and announced to support its new ally UPPL and GSP to take power in the BTC.
The BPF, after the poll outcome, repeatedly urged the BJP leaders to maintain their alliance in the BTC and the state government.