GUWAHATI, April 11 � The Bodoland People�s Front (BPF) is facing a stiff challenge from its main rival the People�s Coordination for Democratic Rights (PCDR) and independents in the elections to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Till the filing of this report at 9.30 pm, of the 37 seats declared, the BPF won 18, while the PCDR-independents combine bagged 15 seats. The AIUDF won three seats, while the BJP bagged just one.
The People�s Coordination for Democratic Rights (PCDR), which was formed recently with different Bodo and non-Bodo parties and organisations, remains at the second position.
The BTC has 40 seats, and the results of three seats were being awaited, State Election Commissioner HN Bora told The Assam Tribune.
In the first two elections to the BTC, the BPF virtually swept the polls, but for the first time, the party faced a stiff challenge from the newly formed PCDR, while other major parties like the BJP, Congress and the AIUDF also joined the electoral battle this time. The heavyweights of the national parties campaigned aggressively during the elections.
Another positive aspect of the election is that for the first time, the election was by and large peaceful with heavy deployment of security forces.
Our Kokrajhar correspondent adds: BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary expressed confidence that his party would form the next council and solving the problems of all sections of people living in the BTAD area would be its main objective.
Mohilary has been elected from Debargaon constituency. However, a senior leader of the BPF Derhashat Basumatary lost from Salakathi constituency.
Mohilary further said that breaking of the alliance with the Congress was a blessing for the BPF as the Congress was virtually wiped out from the BTAD.
In a major setback for the Bodoland People�s Progressive Front (BPPF), president of the party Rabiram Narzary lost the polls. He had contested from two constituencies � Parbatjhora and Bonorgaon � and lost in both. Narzary is also the chief adviser to the PCDR.
Our Bongaigaon correspondent adds: Out of the total seven seats in Chirang district, four went to independent candidates backed by the PCDR, one to BPF and two seats were bagged by independent candidates supported by non-Bodo groups. BTC�s former executive member James Basumatary and speaker Paniram Brahma lost their respective seats.
Our Jalah correspondent adds: The BPF emerged as the largest party, winning four of the 11 seats in Baksa district. Ansuma Kunggur Boro of BPF retained his seat from Mushalpur defeating Radip Kumar Deka (Independent) and Panindra Basumatary (BPF) won from Baganpara, defeating Katiram Boro of PCDR.
In Suklai Serfang, Ganesh Kachari retained his seat. From Goybari, Daben Boro of the BPF retained his seat. In Kokhlabari constituency, Anip Kumar Basumatry of PCDR won.
In Dhira constituency, Ghanashyam Das defeated Castenpin Tirkey, while the BJP opened its account by winning the Nagrijuli seat when its candidate Dharma Narayan Das won. SJAM-backed independent candidate Chakradhar Das defeated Bhubaneswar Goyari of BPF for the Salbari seat.
