Will fight polls as NDA member: BPF; UPPL likely to join Cong-led alliance

Guwahati: In a major shift in Bodoland politics, which has played a crucial role in govt formations in Assam, Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) president Hagrama Mohilary on Sunday announced that BPF will contest the upcoming polls as an NDA ally.In another development, sources in Congress said the grand old party is in talks with BPF’s main rival and another NDA ally, UPPL, to take the latter on board with the opposition alliance.After winning the recent Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) election, BPF has come closer to BJP, with BPF MLA Charan Boro being inducted as a minister in the BJP-led govt. However, BJP’s other ally, UPPL has started distancing itself from NDA.“We are with NDA, though it is not yet final how many seats BPF, AGP or BJP will contest. UPPL may be with the NDA at state or national level. But we will not share seats with UPPL in BTC areas,” said Hagrama.Of the 126 assembly seats in Assam, BTC has 15 assembly seats. Hagrama said BPF is ready to play a bigger role and talks are on between BJP, AGP and BPF for sharing of seats.Though UPPL leaders did not divulge their plan, there is an indication that they may go solo or form alliance with Congress. An Assam PCC source said talks on alliance formation were on with UPPL, which is reportedly upset with BJP’s closeness to BPF after the latter registered a massive victory in the BTC polls.“UPPL may soon announce a decision to snap ties with BJP and join the Congress-led alliance,” a senior leader of the state PCC said on Sunday.According to Congress insiders, the grand old party, which already announced that it will contest 100 seats, may relinquish a significant number of seats for UPPL, if the alliance is finalised.Currently, UPPL has 7 members in the the state assembly, while BPF has 3.For Congress, the joining of UPPL in their alliance will be a major boost, as their influence in Bodoland politics has waned of late.Mohilary saysWe are with NDA, though it is not yet final how many seats BPF, AGP or BJP will contest. UPPL may be with the NDA at state or national level. But we will not share seats with UPPL in BTC areas