HT Correspondent
GOSSAIGAON, July 29: Amar Singh Brahma, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Nikhil Boro Senior Citizens’ Association, has accused the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) of deliberately adopting anti-BJP rhetoric to woo Muslim voters ahead of the forthcoming Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections.
Brahma claimed that the UPPL, fearing a drastic fall in its seat tally from 12 to as low as 3 or 4, is attempting to distance itself from the BJP to appeal to the minority Muslim electorate, which he said has grown increasingly disenchanted with the BJP-led government.
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Referring to the last BTC elections, Brahma said UPPL had managed to win only 12 constituencies and formed the government with the support of the BJP and the blessings of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
He alleged that throughout their tenure, UPPL leaders — including ministers, MLAs, MPs, and council members — remained silent on issues concerning the BJP and were consistently deferential to the Chief Minister.
Brahma pointed to recent remarks made by UPPL General Secretary Raju Narzary criticising the BJP, terming the shift politically significant and aimed at regaining minority support in the wake of eviction drives carried out by the BJP government in various parts of the state.
He asserted that such drives have strained the BJP’s relationship with the Muslim community, making it difficult for any BJP ally to secure their votes.
He further noted that both chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP State President Dilip Saikia have announced that the BJP would contest the upcoming BTC polls independently, severing its alliance with the UPPL.
This, Brahma claimed, has demoralised UPPL leaders, who had benefitted electorally from the earlier coalition.
With the new political dynamics, Brahma warned that the UPPL fears a steep decline in its electoral relevance without BJP support.
He termed the party’s recent anti-BJP stance as a tactical move designed solely to win over the Muslim electorate, who he said would play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the elections.
Brahma urged the people of the BTC region to remain vigilant and not fall prey to what he described as opportunistic political manoeuvres by the UPPL.
