With Assam set to vote in a new Assembly on April 9, the political contest in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) is turning increasingly one-sided. While the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) and BJP alliance gains momentum, the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) struggles to hold ground.
Across districts like Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Baksa and Chirang, the election is being seen by many as a verdict on the past five years.
Bodo Janajati Suraksha Mancha (BJSM) working president Daorao Dekhreb Narzary claimed that the BPF is set for a decisive victory. He alleged that the UPPL has lost public support due to “false promises and wrongdoings,” adding that these factors have helped the BPF regain its position in the region.
BPF riding high
The BPF, led by Hagrama Mohilary, is riding high after its strong comeback in the 2025 Bodoland Territorial Council elections, where it won 28 of the 40 seats. The party is now contesting 11 of the 15 Assembly seats in the BTR as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with the BJP contesting the remaining four.
In several constituencies, the BPF has fielded well-known local leaders. In Kokrajhar (ST), Sewli Mohilary is in the fray, while leaders like Sabharam Basumatary, Rabiram Narzary and Rihon Daimary are banking on their local connect.
Party leaders say there is visible support on the ground. BPF vice-president Prabeen Bodo has said that people are dissatisfied with UPPL’s performance over the last five years, pointing to incomplete development works and unmet expectations.
Challenges for UPPL
For the UPPL, the situation appears challenging. The party, which was part of the NDA government and had seven MLAs in the outgoing Assembly, is now contesting alone after exiting the alliance in March over seat-sharing disagreements.
UPPL president and Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Boro is contesting from Tamulpur (ST) in a keen contest against senior BJP leader Biswajit Daimary. Other leaders, including Lawrence Islary in Kokrajhar and Dipen Boro in Udalguri, are also in the fray.
However, feedback from several areas suggests that the party is facing voter dissatisfaction over its tenure in the BTC between 2020 and 2025. Its poor performance in the 2025 BTC polls has further weakened its position. Political observers believe UPPL may find it difficult to win more than a couple of seats in the region.
BJP and Congress
The BJP, meanwhile, is focussing on its alliance strategy. Contesting only four seats in the BTR, it is relying on the BPF’s strong base among Bodo voters. The division of votes due to UPPL contesting independently is expected to benefit the NDA combine.
The Congress remains a marginal player in the region. Though it has fielded candidates in most constituencies, it lacks a strong organisational base or a prominent Bodo face. Its chances are seen as limited, with only a slim possibility in a few mixed-population areas.
Overall, the contest in the BTR is shaping up primarily between the BPF-led NDA alliance and the UPPL, with the former holding a clear edge at present.
UBPO support for NDA
United Bodo People’s Organisation (UBPO) assistant general secretary Soni Boro said the organisation has decided to support the NDA alliance in the interest of implementing the Third Bodo Peace Accord signed in January 2020. He expressed hope that the alliance would secure a majority in the region.
With momentum favouring the BPF-BJP combine, the final outcome will depend on how voters across the BTR respond when they head to the polls.
