Ahead of the upcoming Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) elections in December, a membership drive surfaced for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The drive included the induction of Mihineswar Basumatary, President UBPO along with 21 state committee members, district presidents and over 700 members of the unit into the saffron party.
The BJP has claimed to have increased its volunteers in the state. "BJP Assam has now up to 52 lakh ‘karyakartas’, a proof of our ever growing strength. I am certain the new inductees will contribute their best in nation building, realising Narendra Modiji's ideal of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas'," posted CM Sarbananda Sonowal on Twitter.
Senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma also called for the unity between the Bodo and Assamese people to counter the politics of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal. "When Bodo and Assamese signboards will be together, Ajmal's politics will end that day," said Himanta Biswa Sarma.
He further called for a united fight against Ajmal. "After 10 years, Ajmal will decide what to give to Bodo, Assamese, Bengali, Marwari people and that is coming," said Sarma.
The BJP leader called for the unification of all the indigenous groups to save Assam. "Assam is standing on the edge of death with a section of people trying to overpower us," Himanta Biswa said.
Himanta Biswa Sarma criticised the “Bodo people who have teamed up with Ajmal”. He summed up the speech by stating that the “Bodo leaders who have joined (the BJP) will now represent the whole of Assam and not just Bodos.”
The utterances of the leader marked a shift from the traditional political narrative of BTR, which has always been dominated with the ethnic assertion of Bodos. With the signing of the Bodo Accord, the BJP has evoked a sense of nationalism in their ethnic politics with the clarion call for ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ as stated by the Sarma in his closing remarks.
Nonetheless, the BJP will still have to fight the conventional powerhouses in the region with the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) being the dominant parties. As per the insiders of the BJP in non-Bodo dominated areas near Musalpur, the party had earlier tried to lure the non-Bodo vote. Now, with the use of nationalism and a common opponent in the form of Ajmal, the party has tried to create a consolidated front taking with it all the ethnic groups.
Although, the BPF is still in coalition with the BJP in the state Assembly, the party has been vocal against the state government over its recent decision such as changing the names of BTC to BTR.
The BJP is still a minor player in the four districts of Bodoland, but how the BPF will counter the BJP’s growing inroads will be seen in the coming election.