BPF fields 11 candidates, Hagrama’s wife makes debut

Guwahati: NDA constituent BPF has announced its candidates for 11 seats in the Bodoland region for the April 9 assembly polls, including its lone minister in the current govt and the wife of party chief Hagrama Mohilary.

The list, declared late on Thursday night, came just hours after allies BJP and AGP released their candidates. One of BPF’s three sitting MLAs, Durga Das Boro, was dropped.

Cabinet minister Charan Boro, a two-time MLA, will contest from Mazbat, while senior leader Rabiram Narzary has been fielded from Dotma. Party chief Mohilary’s wife, Sewli Mohilary, will make her political debut from Kokrajhar.

Former MLAs in the fray include Rihon Daimary (Udalguri), Thaneswar Basumatary (Manas), Maneswar Brahma (Baksa), and Maheswar Boro (Bhergaon). Former All Assam Minority Students’ Union president Rezaul Karim, who recently joined BPF, has been named candidate from Parbotjhora.

Other nominees are Sabharam Basumatary (Gossaigaon), Rupam Roy (Baokungri), and Paniram Brahma (Sidli Chirang).

The announcement positions BPF alongside its NDA allies in a full-strength contest against the Congress-led six-party opposition bloc. Counting of votes will be held on May 4.

In the outgoing assembly, BJP holds 64 seats, AGP nine, UPPL seven, and BPF three. On the opposition side, Congress has 26 MLAs, AIUDF 15, CPI(M) one, and there is one Independent.

The BPF’s candidate list underscores its intent to retain relevance within the NDA fold, while also signalling a generational shift with Sewli Mohilary’s debut.