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    Bodoland People Front chief Hagrama Mohilary may play key role in government formation

    Synopsis

    Mohilary is the key player in 2016 Assembly elections and can play a decisive role in next government formation.

    ET Bureau
    KOKRAJHAR: Rebel-turned-politician Hagrama Mohilary’s Bodoland People Front (BPF) has a liking for treasury bench. Mohilary is the key player in 2016 Assembly elections and can play a decisive role in next government formation. Insurgency besieged Bodoland area, which accounts for 12 Assembly seats is stronghold of BPF, which is now an ally of the BJP. In 2011, the BPF won all the Assembly seats.

    The BPF, which is ruling the sixth schedule area of Bodoland territorial council (BTC) since 2005, is facing anti-incumbency now. In 2006 and 2011, it was part of the Congress-led government in Assam. In 2014, before Lok Sabha polls, the party parted ways with the Congress. This time, the Congress has entered into a pre-poll pact with Bodoland-based United People’s party (UPP).UPP is contesting Kokrajhar (West), Kokrajhar (East), Sidli and Chapaguri Assembly seats. The Congress is contesting the rest of the seats. All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) is contesting several seats. Mohilary has often said he will always be in the government.” I will be always part of the government,” the BPF chief had said in several occasion. The non-Bodos together in 2014 put their weight behind rebel-turned-politician Hira Saraniya and BPF tested its first electoral defeat in its political history when Sarania won the Kokrajhar Lok Sabha seat.

    Political analyst said that non-Bodos are divided this time and will vote for Congress, UPP and AIUDF. BPF is expected to suffer losses in some key seats.

    “Hagrama had said that in the new government his party will claim four key departments however in this election there prospect in six to seven seats looks bleak.” Bodoland has faced major ethnic riots.

    There were series of clashes between Bodos and Adivasis between 1996 and 1998. Bodos and Muslims have clashed in 1993 and 1994. Ethnic riot between Bodo and Bengali-speaking Muslim of 2012 killed over 100 people and left over four lakh displaced. The ethnic conflagration of Bodoland turned out be a national disaster triggered by SMS and social media.


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