Kokrajhar, Jan. 17: The Bodoland People's Progressive Front (BPPF) formally merged with the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) through a unification rally held at Dotma in Kokrajhar today.
As speculated, BPF president and Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief Hagrama Mohilary announced BPPF president Rabiram Narzary's name as the BPF party candidate from Kokrajhar West constituency.
Besides Narzary, BPPF general secretary Dilu Sarma, ex-MLA Romio Brahma and members of 10 district committees and hundreds of supporters joined the BPF.
Narzary declared that with the merger, the BPPF was dissolved. "From today, we are BPF party members," Narzary said.
Mohilary and other BPF leaders welcomed the new party members with traditional Bodo aronai (scarf).
Narzary said the grand unification was the first step to make BTC a model council.
"Unification was necessary as the BTC was going through a political crisis. We respect people's wishes and believe that unification is the need of the hour for security of the region and for the greater interest of the development of the BTAD," he added.
Narzary became the BPPF president when it was formed in 2005, till the party split into BPPF (R) and BPPF (H). Mohilary, then chief of the dissolved Bodo Liberation Tigers Force (BLTF), became the BPPF (H) chief. BPPF (H) later turned into BPF.
Mohilary also called upon the nationalist and social organisations of the community to work for unification of various political parties for the greater interest of the people and development of the BTC region.
Welcoming the BPPF leaders and party workers, Mohilary said, "I always hoped for unification and working together for the greater interest of the BTAD but never thought it would become a reality so early."
Besides Narzary's name, Mohilary announced the name of Milan Boro as the party candidate from Bhabanipur constituency. With this, the BPF has declared the list of all 16 candidates for the Assembly elections. The party earlier announced a list of 14 candidates.
Mohilary expressed confidence that the party would win in all the 16 seats and form the next government in Dispur, along with the BJP.
