ASSAM BJP ALLY SETS RIDER
Party chief asks BJP to select ‘dynamic leader’ triggering speculations about Sonowal’s fate
With BJP-led alliance set to form the government for second consecutive term in Assam, the speculation has started over the leadership issue as BIP’s new alliance partner and United People’s Party Liberal chief Pramod Boro on Sunday asked the BJP leaders to select a “dynamic” leader who can address the burning issues of flood, unemployment and many other issues of the state proactively.
Elated over the victory of his party in the Bodoland Territorial Council area in the Assembly polls Boro told this newspaper, “We have promised to bring in development and address the burning issues that forced our youths to take up arms. We have succeeded in bringing all the armed rebel groups of Bodoland areas back to the mainstream. People have expressed confidence by voting us to power in the council and now in Assembly polls too.”
Expressing his gratitude to the people of Western Assam, Boro while referring that BJP had not declared any chief ministerial candidate for Assam, said, “I would like to request the BJP leadership to select a dynamic leader to lead the party and alliance. The leader who can deliver and work hard to fulfil all the promises that we have given to the people.”
Boro, the young new chief of the BTC, and until recently the president of the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), the most influential Bodo civil society group has emerged as the new face of the BJP-led alliance. Boro’s remark is also significant as he became the face of the 2020 Bodo Accord — with Union home minister Amit Shah describing it as “the final and comprehensive solution” to the Bodo problem — with ABSU being one of its key signatories. Though, Boro refused to take the name of any leader. He reiterated that it was the internal matter of the BJP.
It is significant that BJP’s decision not to name incumbent chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal as party candidate for the top post had triggered a wave of speculation that the saffron party might be thinking of rewarding Himanta Biswa Sarma if it returns to power in Assam.
Assam BJP chief Ranjeet Dass, while clarifying the confusion, had stated that the decision of who would be the chief minister would be taken by the parliamentary board.