How Bodoland Territorial Council polls will test BJP ahead of 2026 Assam assembly election

Himanta Biswa Sarma

The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) election Assam is seen as a precursor to next year’s assembly election in the northeastern state. The polls will be a litmus test of the BJP's popularity ahead of the crucial state polls next year. Traditionally dominated by regional parties, the council will this time see the BJP contesting on its own.

Elections for the 40-member BTC, which controls administration in five districts, will take place on September 22. Nearly 2.6 million voters are eligible to vote for the BTC polls. The votes will be counted on September 26.

Currently, the council is led by the United Peoples' Party-Liberal (UPPL) with the BJP as partner, while the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) sits in opposition but supports the NDA government in Assam. Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has campaigned extensively, expressing confidence of a BJP victory.

According to the poll body, a total of 71 candidates from various political parties and independents will now remain in the fray across the Udalguri district constituencies. As per official records, in the 31 Khairabari (ST Reserved) constituency, seven candidates have been found eligible. In 32 Bhergaon (ST Reserved), the number stands at nine. Similarly, 33 Nonoi Serfang (Unreserved) has six, 34 Khalingduar (ST Reserved) seven, and 35 Mudwibari (General) leads the tally with ten valid candidates.

The UPPL and BPF have announced candidates for all 40 seats. The UPPL is part of the ruling alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the state level – the BJP and the Asom Gana Parishad are the other two constituents. But the three parties are separately contesting the council elections. The BJP has named candidates on 28 seats and the AGP on four seats.

The BJP is facing some resistance over its choice of candidates in Koklabari and Baganpara. In Koklabari, the party has given ticket to Ramen Madahi, who was shot by police in an encounter in November 2023 in connection with a land grabbing case. In Baganpara, some BJP workers have opposed the candidature of Rekha Rani Das Boro and have threatened to put up a rebel candidate.

In the 2020 polls, the BJP won nine of the 24 seats it contested, while the BPF emerged as the largest party with 17 seats but was kept out of power as the BJP, UPPL and Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) formed the council government. The UPPL won 12 seats, and defections later further strengthened the BJP.