Assam BTC Elections Today: BJP vs Congress Showdown

The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections in Assam are crucial, shaping the state's political landscape. They represent a major test for the BJP and Congress ahead of the next assembly elections. For Chief Ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma and Gaurav Gogoi, this election will be a test of their popularity. In 2020, the BPF was the largest party, but the UPPL and BJP formed the government together.

The voting for the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections on Monday is significant in Assam politics, as it will not only decide the power in the Bodoland region but also shape the future course of politics for the entire state.

This BTC election is a major test for both the BJP and Congress, the national parties, ahead of next year's assembly elections. For Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Gaurav Gogoi, the Congress state president and deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, this election will prove to be a test of their popularity and political influence. The council has a total of 46 seats, of which 40 are directly elected and six are nominated.

Which party emerged as the largest party?
In 2020, the Bodo People's Front (BPF) emerged as the largest party, winning 17 seats. However, it fell short of a majority. In that election, the United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) won 12 seats, while the BJP won 9. Following the election results, the UPPL and BJP formed a government in the council, forcing the BPF to sit in the opposition.

This time, the equations are different. The UPPL is contesting all 40 seats, while the BJP has fielded candidates in 30. The Congress has fielded candidates in all 40 seats. The Congress's previous position was very weak, having been content with just one seat.

Gaurav Gogoi in Command

However, this time the party is led by Gaurav Gogoi, a Lok Sabha MP from Assam and the state Congress president. This election is a battle of credibility for Gogoi, who is attacking the BJP government and trying to make the unfulfilled promises of the Bodo Accord an issue.

CM Himanta's Image
The BJP is banking on the image and performance of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The Bodoland region has been relatively peaceful over the past five years, with no major incidents of violence. The BJP is touting this as an achievement to attract voters. The party claims to have accelerated the pace of development and fulfilled the aspirations of the Bodo community. This is why the BJP, despite being in alliance with the UPPL, has staked its claim on a large number of seats independently.