MUSHALPUR, March 22 � Poll fever has gripped the BTC after the date for Bodoland Territorial Council Legislative Assembly Election to be held on April 8 was declared.
Out of the four BTAD districts, Baksa is likely to be a testing ground for the regional as well as national political parties where most of the constituencies are likely to witness multi-cornered contests. Baksa district is the power centre of the Aboro Suraksha Samiti, Gana Bikash Parishad led by MP Naba Kumar Sarania and MLA Hitesh Basumatray-led Independent Forum. In addition to these parties, the BPF will have to face a contest from the PCDR.
Former EM, Hitesh Basumatary along with Maheswar Basumatary and Singharam Boro under the banner of Independent Forum is fielding its candidates. Leader of the Gana Bikash Parishad, Naba Kumar Sarania while fielding his party candidates, faces contest from the Aboro Suraksha Samiti itself that played a major role in his comprehensive win in the recent Lok Sabha polls. It is apparently clear that either party will have to share the non-Bodo votes that brought victory to Naba Kumar Sarania. The division of non-Bodo votes is likely to benefit the PCDR rather than the BPF whose rift inside the party and delay in announcing candidates in some constituencies has put its supporters in an awkward position. Some of the prominent leaders of the BPF have left the party to join the BJP along with a good number of supporters giving an opportunity to the national party to make a ground though it kept away from contesting the previous BTC elections. With so many parties in the fray, the election scenario is already charged up in Baksa with a lot more to come after the filing of nominations.