BJP to govern Bodoland Council

The BJP, which is currently leading the coalition government in Assam since 2016, became part of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) on Tuesday, 17 years after the creation of a politically relevant tribal autonomous body.

A five-person executive body, consisting of two members each from the Bharatiya Janata Party and the United People’s Liberal Party (UPPL) and one member from the Gana Suraksha Party (GSP), took office on Tuesday after the ceremony in Kokrajhar, the headquarters of the Gana Suraksha Party (GSP).

UPPL President Promod Boro became Chief Executive Member (CEM) and his party’s senior leader, Gobindo Chandra Basumatry, took office as Deputy CEM while BJP’s Gautam Das and Diganta Barua and GSP’s Ghanashyam Das took office as Executive Members.

Assam Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua, in the presence of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Health and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and other political leaders, administered the oath of office to the CEM and the four Executive Members.

As President of the All Bodo Student Union, Promod Boro played a major role in signing the peace agreement with four groups of the banned National Democratic Front of Boronland (NDFB) on 27 January. Several leaders of these sects fought and won the BTC elections held on 7 and 10 December.

Sajal Kumar Singha, the only elected member of the Congress, was expelled from the party after joining the BJP on Monday.

Promod Boro expressed his appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister and Finance Minister for promoting peace and prosperity in the Bodoland Territorial Area (BTR) with the signing of the Bodo Accord in January.

Describing the Prime Minister as a revolutionary leader, the 45-year-old tribal leader said that Modi and Shah had taken the initiative to address the problems of the region so that harmony could prevail.