BJP may contest all 40 seats in Assam’s Bodoland Council

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest the upcoming elections to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) independently and may field candidates in all 40 constituencies across the region it administers, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday (August 2, 2025).

The BJP is currently a minor ally of the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) in the BTC, which governs the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), comprising five districts in northern and western Assam. The UPPL is one of the two regional allies of the BJP in the Assam government.

Addressing a BJP event at Mwdwibari in the BTR’s Udalguri district, the Chief Minister said his party was firm on contesting the BTC elections independently.

“We are considering fielding candidates in all 40 constituencies in the council,” he said, insisting that the BJP does not regard either the UPPL or its rival, the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), as its enemy.

“We are taking the elections in the BTR seriously this time, and we want to move forward on our strength with a focus on comprehensive development of the region after ensuring peace in the last five years,” Mr. Sarma said.

The BJP is speculated to ditch the UPPL, as it is no longer keen on playing second fiddle to a regional party in the BTC. One of the reasons is believed to be the UPPL not letting the BJP dictate terms in the BTR.

The BPF was the BJP’s ally during the government headed by Sarbananda Sonowal. The two parties drifted apart before the 2021 Assembly polls due to differences between Mr. Sarma and Hagrama Mohilary, the BPF chief.

There is speculation that the BJP and BPF may reconcile, as the latter is considered more likely to allow the BJP greater influence in the BTR.

Elections to the BTC are expected by October.