Kokrajhar, Jan. 29: The Hagrama Mohilary-led faction of the Bodoland People?s Progressive Front (BPPF) has begun preparations for the forthcoming Assembly elections by constituting its women and youth wings.

The two wings ? Bodoland People?s Progressive Youth Front and Bodoland People?s Progressive Women Front ? were formed at a meeting held in Kokrajhar on Saturday.

Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) member Manoj Kumar Brahma and Maneswar Basumatary have been selected as president and secretary of the youth front along with 10 others in the executive committee, while Malati Rani Brahma and Akhtara Ali Ahmed head the 12-member women front committee as president and secretary respectively.

The formation of the youth and women wings by the Hagrama faction came after the rival faction led by Rabiram Narzary announced that it would go for an electoral understanding with the National Democratic Front of Boroland for Assembly elections.

Sources close to Mohilary said a committee convention would be held in February.

Speaking to the media after the formation of the wings, BTC deputy chief and BPPF vice-president Chandan Brahma said, ?Politics means involvement of the mass people in the grassroots level and by empowering the youth, the party would be able to reach out to the people in an effective way.?

?In the same way, the women front has been formed with a view to giving a fillip to the party and empowering the fair sex,? he added.

Rabiram Narzary recently declared that his party would field 15 candidates in the BTC region and was ready to take the support of the NDFB.

Expressing support to the decision of the NDFB to participate in the coming elections, Narzary said: ?The NDFB also needs candidates to air their views. They can back some of their chosen ones. There are options open for an understanding with them.?

However, he said the party did not want to use the NDFB as a means to ensure victory.