Kokrajhar, May 19: The Bodoland People's Front (BPF) repeated its achievement of the last Assembly elections by winning all the 12 constituencies within the Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD).
The ruling party in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) made a clean sweep for the second consecutive time. In the 2006 Assembly elections, the BPF won 11 seats.
It lost Gauripur adjoining the BTAD but won in Kalaigaon that was held by the AGP. BPF candidate Maheswar Boro defeated AIUDF candidate Natu Ram Boro by 17,638 votes. Boro bagged 47,203 votes while Nathu Ram Boro of the AIUDF got 29,565 votes. Sitting MLA Mukunda Ram Choudhury of the AGP came third with 24,286 votes.
Gauripur sitting BPF legislator Banendra Kumar Mushahary lost to AIUDF candidate Mizanur Rehman by 19,781 votes.
A jubilant BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary gave credit to the people of the BTAD for the win. He said, "It signifies that the people have faith in the BPF. It is the win of the people. We (BJP-AGP-BPF alliance) were confident of winning majority of seats and form the next government in Dispur. The results were as expected."
"I predicted a loss for the Congress but did not expect this much. I thought they would get around 40-plus seats," he added.
On getting ministerial berths in the new government, Mohilary said, "It will happen only after discussion with the alliance party. Earlier, we said we should get four berths but the final decision will be taken only after the meeting. Getting ministerial berths is not a big issue but providing Scheduled Tribe status to Bodo people in Karbi Anglong, preventing militancy and ensuring development are more important."
Pramila Rani Brahma, who won for the sixth consecutive time from Kokrajhar East, also gave credit to the people for her magnificent win. The former agriculture minister said she would continue to work for all-round development of her constituency and the state as well. She said solving unemployment problem should be the first priority of the new government. Pramila defeated Pratibha Brahma of the UPP by 40,080 votes.
The key winners include Rabiram Narzary from Kokrajhar West, Chandan Brahma from Sildi, Rihon Daimari won for third time from Udalguri. BPF general secretary and sitting MLA from Tamulpur Emanuel Muchahary, Kamali Rani Basumatary from Panery, Majendra Narzary from Gossaigaon, Thaneswar Boro from Chapaguri, Maneswar Brahma from Barama, Charan Boro from Majbat and Kamal Singh Brahma from Bijni also won.
"Mohilary must be given the sole credit for the party's big win. Joining hands with the BJP that is at the Centre has also worked in favour of the party," said a professor of political science here.
