Jubilant people participating in an election campaign rally at Udalguri on June 18, 2020. Image: Northeast Now

With dark clouds of uncertainty looming large over the fate of BTC council polls in Assam which has been indefinitely postponed owing to coronavirus pandemic there has been wide spread speculation as to which party will form the government.

While, Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are chest thumping of securing majority in the 40 member council polls in the four districts of the Bodo belt, it is the saffron party which is playing it safe with its door open for any party securing majority.

Sources in the BJP disclosed that the party wants to come in alliance in the government and is eyeing to secure at least 7-10 seats.

The saffron party which maintains it’s alliance in dispute with BPF, however, are trying it’s fate and have earlier also declined requests from BPF to field candidates on seat-sharing basis.

A political analyst, Zakir Hussain who is closely monitoring the BTC polls said, “The State BJP has been maintaining a soft approach towards both BPF and UPPL in BTC and is likely to participate in forming the council government with any of the party that secures majority.”

State BJP president Ranjeet Dass, earlier said the party would field candidates in 25 constituencies and claimed that the party would win in most of the seats.

He said there would not be any pre-poll alliance with any party but they would support the party which would have the maximum number of seats.

Dass also added that the party had put forward the demand for holding BTC election as early as possible.

Pertinently the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) an autonomous council under 6th schedule was created on 10th February, 2003 after the second Bodo accord was signed through tripartite talks between the State and Cente and the Bodoland Liberation Tigers (BLT).

The 46 member council has six nominated members who are appointed by Governor from non-represented communities.

Shajid Khan is Northeast Now Correspondent in Udalguri. He can be reached at: [email protected]