Congress rules out alliance with BPF for BTC polls in Assam

Guwahati: The ruling Congress today said the ‘high command’ has asked the state unit not to go for an alliance with its erstwhile partner Bodoland Peoples Front in the forthcoming Bodoland Territorial Council elections.

The party is, however, open to join hands with any other “secular” force for the election, which is slated to take place within next three months.

“The high command has informed us of not going for an alliance with BPF for BTC polls. We are ready to form alliance with any other secular party, for which we will have to take approval of the high command,” Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Anjan Dutta told reporters in Guwahati.

He said the party is likely to contest BTC elections alone, but it may form an alliance if necessary.

“In BTC polls, we will be the majority party and will form government. We have held some local meetings there and got positive feedback,” Dutta said.

He also said many BPF leaders have expressed willingness to join Congress before the BTC polls, which is likely to take place on April 7.

In June last year, Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) broke its eight-year old alliance with ruling Congress party in Assam accusing it of non-cooperation in development of Bodoland Territorial Area Districts.

Dutta, who addressed the press conference to announce the five-day state-level training camp of the ‘Congress Sevadal’ in the city from today, also expressed confidence of winning at least 45 of the 77 municipal bodies across the state during the forthcoming polls.

PTI