As Alliances Shift, 2 Bodoland Leaders Hope To Play 'Kingmaker' In Assam

On one side stands Hagrama Mohilary, once a man of the gun, now a man of the ballot, whose very presence carries the weight of Bodoland's turbulent past and negotiated peace. On the other is a former student leader, Pramod Boro, forged in agitation and ambition. 

Together, they are two power centres - one an established kingmaker, the other a potential one.

In Tamulpur of the Bodoland Territorial Region, Mohilary arrives not alone, but with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. As they descend from the chopper, shoulder to shoulder, the crowd erupts in cheers. It is more than just an entrance, it is a message. A carefully choreographed display of unity between old allies coming together and signalling unity and a consolidation of power. 

Some 70 kilometres away,  in Udalguri, his arch-rival Boro, former president of the All Bodo Students Union, steps out from a convoy of vehicles to a waiting sea of supporters. The moment he appears, the crowd surges forward, holding gamusas in their hands to welcome him. 

Between these two formidable personalities lies not just the battle for Bodoland and regional dominance, but also the possibility of playing a crucial role in the Assam elections next week. 

There are 15 Assembly seats in the Bodoland Territorial Region. While the Bodoland People's Front, led by Mohilary, who is also the current chief executive member of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), will contest from 11 constituencies in the region, its ally BJP has fielded candidates for the remaining four. The United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), led by Boro, the former chief executive member of the council, is contesting all 15 seats independently. 

Confidence, Vision

The BPF and BJP have formed and dissolved their alliance over control of the Bodoland Territorial Region and the Assembly elections, and the emergence of the UPPL in 2015 had also strained ties between the parties. 

"People have seen me as a kingmaker, and that will hold true this time as well. There is no doubt the NDA will form the government this time. The political atmosphere in Assam is not favourable for the Congress, which is why we chose to ally with the BJP. This alliance will ensure peace and development in the BTR. The BJP will win its four seats and the BPF will get the remaining 11. The UPPL is not a challenge, nor is the Congress," Mohilary told NDTV. 

"In Bodoland, nationalist parties cannot succeed on their own. The UPPL will be wiped out this time. Our focus will be on agriculture, irrigation, education, and healthcare. Roads and communication infrastructure will also be strengthened. The UPPL has not delivered on development here, but we will fulfil all our promises," he added. 

Boro said the Bodoland region had seen instability and claimed his party brought grassroots development when it was in power in the council. "People want us back. We are contesting alone and expect to win 10-12 seats in the BTR and two or three seats outside the council area," he said.

Over 2,700 km of roads were built during his tenure, the UPPL chief said, along with temples and sports infrastructure, and the focus was on decentralisation and reaching remote areas

On past ties with the BJP, Boro said the parties had split due to both "ideological and political reasons", adding that key issues, including violence, were not adequately addressed by national parties, prompting the need for a regional voice.

"Council elections and Assembly elections are different. The BPF lacks a clear mission and vision for the people. Regardless of the situation, we will continue to fight for the people here," he added. 

Wheels Of Power

After losing the elections and remaining out of office for five years, the BPF regained control of the BTC last year with a decisive victory over the UPPL and the BJP. The party won 28 of the 40 seats, while the UPPL secured seven and the BJP five. The Congress failed to win any seats. In the 2020 BTC elections, the UPPL and BJP had formed a post-poll alliance, but they contested last year's polls separately. 

With this win, the BPF held on to its position as the single-largest party in BTC elections since 2005, including 17 seats in 2020, when it failed to get a clear majority. Mohilary served as the chief executive member from 2005 to 2020 and is now holding the post again. 

The BPF and BJP formed an alliance in 2016 and the regional party's leaders were even part of the Assam government under Sarbananda Sonowal. Things changed in 2020 when the BJP parted ways with the BPF and chose to form the Bodoland Territorial Council government with the UPPL instead. 

In the 2021 Assembly elections, the BPF became a part of the Congress-led 'Mahajot' (Grand Alliance). 

This had unfolded against the backdrop of the BPF rejecting the third Bodo Accord - signed in January 2020 between the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), four factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the government - which was aimed at bringing peace and ending insurgency in the region. 

Boro, who was the ABSU president at the time, then joined the UPPL, just months before the 2020 BTC elections. Ties further deteriorated after the BTC elections were delayed due to Covid-19, and the region was placed under Governor's rule, much to the BPF's dismay.

Asked who his party would support if it managed to win a few seats, Boro said, "We will decide on a coalition after May 4. We have enough time."

Assam, which has 126 Assembly seats, will vote on April 9. Counting will be held on May 4.