GUWAHATI, Jan 21 - The Bodoland People�s Front (BPF) has decided to come into an electoral understanding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the interest of all-round development of the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (BTAD) area, asserted the vice chairman of the BPF and former Minister, Chandan Brahma.
Talking to The Assam Tribune today, Brahma said that the BPF would contest in 16 Assembly constituencies, while it would extend all required support to the BJP in other constituencies. He admitted that though the BPF is also a constituent of the United People�s Front (UPF), a joint forum of political parties representing different ethnic groups of the State, the party individually came to an understanding with the BJP and not as the UPF.
Replying to a question as to why Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not announce any package in his speech during the recent visit to the State, Brahma said, �We were told that no such announcement was made as the schedule for the Budget Session of Parliament has already been announced. But we are given to understand that a special package for the development of the BTAD would be included in the Union Budget.�
Brahma said that the issues relating to the development of the BTAD were discussed with the leaders of the BJP, including the party president Amit Shah, on January 17. He said that the BJP has promised that a Rs 1000-crore package for the development of the BTAD would be included in the Union Budget and the amount would be spent over a period of three years.
The BPF vice president said that apart from a special package, the Government of India has also promised steps for the implementation of the accord signed between the Government and militant outfit Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) in 2003. The issue of inclusion of Bodo-Kacharis of Karbi Anglong in the list of Scheduled Tribes has already been cleared by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and the Central Cabinet is likely to clear the proposal soon. That was one of the main points of the accord, Brahma said.
