A CORRESPONDENT
BAKSA: With just a few days to go before the assembly elections, the political atmosphere in No. 58 Tamulpur assembly constituency is getting interesting. Several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders formally joined the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) in Tamulpur on Thursday night.
These leaders had left the BPF and joined the BJP just before the BTC elections but now they have returned to the BPF before the assembly elections. A total of 16 BJP leaders like Subhash Basumtary, Abhijit Das Deuri, Anirudha Kalita and leaders from other political parties formally joined the BPF on Thursday night at a meeting held at the office of the Tamulpur District BPF. All of them were warmly welcomed to the party and felicitated with phulam gamosa.
The joining ceremony was hosted by BPF leaders Maheswar Basumatary, former executive member of BTC, Khamfa Brahma and Dipak Deka. Several leaders, including BPF candidate of Tamulpur LAC, Rangja Khunggur Basumtary, former chairman of Sarania Kachari Development Council, Dipak Deka, and Balen Boro, among others were present in the joining ceremony of BPF.
Subhas Basumatary who left the BPF and joined the BJP before the BTC election said, "Due to misunderstanding with some leaders of the BPF, I had left the party. But after joining the BJP, we realized that the BJP was not a party for the common people. The dictatorship of BJP leaders made uncomfortable and so we decided to come back to the BPF." He added, "I think the people of BTR feel more secure under the leadership of BPF supremo Hagrama Mohilary."
BPF leader Maheswar Basumatary said, "The BPF is a regional political party which gives justice to people, irrespective of caste and community. So members and leaders of other political parties have joined the BPF in large numbers. People will cast their valuable votes in favour of the BPF this time and will help the Congress-led Grand Alliance to come to power."
In another joining programme held at Tamulpur district BPF office chaired by Khampha Brahma, 25 persons formally joined the BPF on Friday. In the programme, BPF leader Jogen Basumatary, former chairman of Sarania Kachari Development Council, Dipak Deka, BPF leader Kanu Kalita and other prominent leaders were present.
Addressing media persons, Dipak Deka said, "People of the State as well as BTR have lost their trust on the BJP and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL). The BJP-led government has given only false and fake promises in the last five years. So this time people will give a befitting reply to the BJP in the assembly election." He further said, "The Congress-led Grand Alliance will definitely form the government in the State with the love and support of the people."