In a bid to shake up the political landscape of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), two new parties have emerged, just months ahead of the upcoming elections. The Jan Bharat Party (JBP) and the Alternative Party of Bodoland (APB) made their debut on Wednesday, with the former led by former All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA) advisor Teharu Gaur. The latter was formed by former leaders and cadres of the now-defunct National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in Baksa.
Gaur, who is set to contest in the polls, plans to field candidates in all 40 constituencies, with a focus on Chirang, Baksa, Udalguri, and Kokrajhar districts. He expressed his discontent with the current state of affairs in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), citing the neglect of significant issues by the ruling party and the opposition. Gaur believes that the people are yearning for change, and his party will address concerns such as land rights and political representation, which have been ignored for too long.
Noting that the government has failed to address the issues, Gaur criticized the implementation of the Basundhara schemes, which he claimed have not lead to the desired development. He also criticized the 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill of 2019, passed during the Assam Legislative Assembly’s Budget session, for lacking public consultations and transparency. To that end, JBP plans to distribute photocopies of the legislation to inform the public and keep them abreast of the developments.
In a separate development, APB, led by President Dr. Anjali Daimary, was launched in the presence of thousands of former cadres of the NDFB. Daimary emphasized the party’s aim to practice inclusive politics, including all stakeholders in the decision-making process. The party’s formation is a direct response to the perceived injustices in the system, particularly the detention of NDFB cadres even after the signing of a peace accord. APB plans to contest the upcoming polls on an agenda that addresses these glaring issues.
The emergence of these new parties is likely to disrupt the status quo in the BTC, where the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) have traditionally held sway. With their unique agendas and grassroots approaches, JBP and APB may attract a significant following among the voters who are disillusioned with the existing political landscape.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/btc-polls-see-two-new-entrants-ex-ndfb-cadres-adivasi-students-body-float-parties-1573125
Category : Assam,Featured
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-04-02 21:57:00
