The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections have delivered a suspenseful verdict, with the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), led by former Chief Executive Member Hagrama Mohilary, poised to emerge as the single-largest party. As vote counting concluded across the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), the initial tallies indicate a fragmented mandate, making immediate coalition negotiations unavoidable to form the next council government. The majority mark in the 40-member Council is 21 seats.
BPF Leads, UPPL-BJP Trail
The latest results show a strong comeback for the BPF, which has secured the largest number of seats, moving close to the magic figure of 21. In stark contrast, the outgoing ruling coalition partners—the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), led by incumbent CEM Pramod Boro, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—have fallen significantly short of an independent majority. The UPPL secured fewer seats than anticipated, and the BJP, which contested independently this time, also failed to make the decisive gains it had hoped for. Ultimately, no single party managed to cross the 21-seat threshold comfortably.
Political Chessboard: The Road to Alliance
Consequently, the focus has swiftly shifted from counting halls to back-channel discussions. Both the BPF and the UPPL, despite their rivalry, now require the support of the national party, BJP, to secure the required majority. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has already set the tone, stating that the new council will be formed by an NDA partner, thereby keeping all options open. Therefore, the BJP holds the pivotal role in deciding the next Chief Executive Member of the BTR.
What Lies Ahead for BTR Governance
This election was widely considered the ‘semifinal’ before the 2026 Assam Assembly polls, so the outcome is highly consequential. A quick resolution is necessary to ensure stable governance and the smooth execution of development projects under the latest Bodo Accord. Political observers believe the coming hours will be critical. Ultimately, the formation of the new council will hinge on complex power-sharing agreements between the three principal players—BPF, UPPL, and BJP—regardless of which party emerges as the final single largest.
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