BPF candidate Pramila Rani Brahma & UPPL candidate Lawrence Islary file nominations

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: Minister and senior leader of Bodoland People's Front (BPF) Pramila Rani Brahma and former general secretary of ABSU (All Bodo Students' Union) and now one of the secretaries of United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) Lawrence Islary have filed their nomination papers for the 30-Kokrajhar East (ST) Constituency before the district Returning Officer.

While Minister Brahma was accompanied by the president of Kokrajhar district unit of BPF and MCLA (Member of Council Legislative Assembly) of BTC (Bodo Territorial Council) Derhasat Basumatary, Islary was accompanied by UPPL vice president Pratibha Brahma.

Hundreds of people joined both the rallies. The BPF rally started from NRL petrol pump and the UPPL rally commenced from the BTC Secretariat Field at Bodofa Nwgwr.

Pramila Rani Brahma claimed before the media that with support from the masses, the BPF will win all the 12 seats in the BTC. She further said, "The BPF is the only regional party having the strongest support base among all communities in the region."

Brahma further said, "The BPF has support from the AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front) and other allied parties of the 'Mahajoot'. Our combined force will defeat the UPPL and other party candidates."

UPPL candidate Lawrence Islary is a new face to contest the Assembly polls. Addressing the media, Islary said, "The BTC has a tradition of the ruling party and its alliance partners registering clean sweeps in Assembly polls. Now, as the BTC is being run by the UPPL, it, along with its alliance, will register victories in all the 12 seats in the BTR."

He added, "I have been receiving tremendous support from all quarters. Seeking changes and development in the region, the masses have also come forward to support the UPPL. Moreover, I have close relationship with leaders of various student organizations and communities."

Islary further said, "In 30-Kokrajhar East, there will be a straight fight between the UPPL and the BPF. The Pramod Boro-led UPPL has been raising voice against corrupt-and-boisterous rule of the BPF in the BTC. The masses in the region have already rejected the BPF."

It may be mentioned that BPF candidate Pramila Rani Brahma — a Catholic — was first elected from this Constituency in 1991. A legislator for the last 30 years, she has been a Cabinet Minister thrice. She is the longest-serving Bodo woman in the Assam Legislative Assembly.

Meanwhile, Lawrence Islary — a Lutheran — was the general secretary of the ABSU for several years. After retiring from the students' organization in the Gohpur session of ABSU in January this year, he joined the UPPL being led by Pramod Boro.

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