BJP-BPF alliance will depend on 'prevailing situation', says Himanta Biswa Sarma

Kokrajhar: Assam Finance, Health, and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has hinted at strained relations between the BJP and its alliance partner Bodoland People's Front (BPF). Sarma has said that the party's alliance with the BPf will depend on "the prevailing situation." Although the BJP and BPF are allies, they are separately contesting the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) polls.

Making an address during the BJP's ST Marcha meeting held Kokrajhar, Sarma said, "The relationship with BPF at the state-level is still intact. We are looking forward to the same with the BPF for the next five years but it will depend on the prevailing situation." Himanta Biswa Sarma has also claimed that many of the Hagrama Mohilary-led BPF's leaders are in touch with the saffron brigade.

Biswa Sarma also made the bold prediction that the saffron party will win the polls and ascend to power in the Bodo-dominated region of Assam. The Minister further announced that the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) elections will be held in December of this year.

Meanwhile, BJP state president Ranjeet Kumar Dass has also said that the BJP party is ready to contest the polls.

Assam's cabinet had on October 7 decided to request the State Election Commission to hold the postponed BTC election in December 2020.

The election to the 40-member BTC was originally scheduled on April 4 but was postponed indefinitely due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi assumed charge of the Council on expiry of its five-year term on Apr 27, 2020. The previous government in the Council was led by the Hagrama Mohilary-led BPF.

The election to the 126-member Assam Assembly is likely in March-April of 2021.

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