The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) officially commenced its campaign for the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections on Saturday, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma outlining a tentative election schedule and ambitious development pledges. The Chief Minister indicated that polling for the BTC is expected by the third week of September, with results declared before Durga Puja.
Addressing party workers in the Mwdwibari constituency, Chief Minister Sarma articulated the party’s immediate goal for the region. “Our target is clear—announce the BTC elections in the third week of August, conduct voting a month later, and declare results before Puja,” he stated. This visit marks his second to the Bodoland Territorial Region since early July, underscoring the party’s focus on the upcoming polls.
The campaign formally began with the establishment of 21-member booth-level committees in each constituency, intended to form the “backbone of the party at the grassroots,” according to the Chief Minister.
Framing the BTC elections as a pivotal moment for inclusive growth, the Chief Minister vowed to extend the state government’s achievements in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, and social welfare to the region. “BTR is home to many languages and traditions. Our goal is a council where every resident feels like a first-class citizen,” he affirmed. Among the notable promises, Sarma cited ongoing initiatives, including a ₹33-crore government college in Kalaigaon, and announced a new, ambitious objective: establishing an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the region during the next council term. He expressed confidence that “good governance will make BTR sprint towards progress.”
Linking the election timeline to welfare outreach, Sarma presented a calendar of forthcoming schemes across Assam. These include Orunodoi 3.0, set to launch on September 17 (Tuesday), offering a monthly cash transfer of ₹1,250 plus a ₹250 LPG subsidy for beneficiary families. Additionally, the Nijut Moina scheme, providing financial aid for school-going girls, is scheduled for August 6 (Tuesday), and the Mahila Udhyamita Asoni for August 21 (Wednesday). Plans also include upgrading ration cards to incorporate pulses, salt, and sugar alongside rice.
The Chief Minister highlighted the creation of 1.5 lakh jobs by the current government and pledged an additional 50,000 appointments by October, assuring that “the poor youth of BTC will get a fair share” in the recruitment process. He concluded with an appeal for political unity, identifying land encroachment as the region’s “real enemy.” “We’re not asking you to abandon UPPL or BPF. We simply ask you to give BJP a chance. If BJP wins the maximum BTC seats, the scale of development will be unparalleled,” he urged. Sarma credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for restoring peace to a region once troubled by ethnic unrest and violence, stating, “Since I took oath in 2021, there have been no bomb blasts or gunfire in BTR. The next five years must convert this peace into lasting prosperity.”
