United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) president Pramod Boro on Sunday sounded poll bugle and avouched to oust the ruling Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), an ally of BJP at Dispur in the forthcoming Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) polls.
The former students’ leader have been attending party meets across the four districts of BTC – Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri where the party is trying to gain confidence of the non-tribal populace comprising almost 75 per cent.
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Pramod Boro attended a party meet at Barimakha village near Tamulpur of Baksa district, 96 kms from Guwahat where several people joined the party on Sunday.
Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the event, Boro, the former president of influential All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) said, “Everyone irrespective of community and religion have volunatarily come forward for a ‘change’ in the forthcoming BTC council polls.”
“A festive atmosphere has prevailed over the Bodo belt where the people are gripped in a sense of euphoria post the Bodo pact which is a good sign for a healthy democracy,” he added.
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Boro further claimed, “If there is a free and fair election, we are not only confident, but assured that the party will win with landslide victory and form the council.”
“Who comes to power that is not a concern of our party as we are not power hungry like BPF, but our sole aim is to address the issues plaguing the people and that is where we differ with the BPF.” Boro said.
He further claimed that there is an anti-incumbancy wave against the ruling party and people are batting for a change in guards which will strengthen the democracy in true terms.
Reiterating the Modi government’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Bikas’, Boro said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision must be reflected in the grassroots level politics and not just remain in pen and paper.
“We are batting for bringing a good governance where every community – Bodo, Assamese, religious minorities, Bengalis, Adivasis, among others will have equal socio-political rights.
“In the present scenario every class be it farmers, teachers, women, everyone is groppling with many issues and we avouch to address issues of the 32 lakhs people of the Bodo belt once voted to power,” Boro said.
In question to speculations of Boro contesting from Debargaon constituency, the home constituency of BTC supremo, Hagrama Mohillary, he said, “If people and the party wants me to contest from Debargaon constituency I will definetly contest it.”
“All depends on where do the people and the party wants me to contest,” he added.
The BPF has already announced 16 candidates in the 46 member council where elections will be held for 40 seats and six members are nominated by the Governor from the non-represented communities.
In the 2015 council polls, the BPF retained power for the third consecutive term by winning 20 seats and gaining 28.5 per cent votes.
The BPF also lost 11 seats in contrast to the last election in which it had won 31 seats.