Bodoland People’s Front chief Hagrama Mohilary’s decision to walk out of the Bhartiya Janta Party’s alliance in Assam is an unwelcome step towards the steps made by Amit Shah and JP Nadda in ensuring the party’s decent back to power.
But the ride may not be smooth as the Bhartiya Janta Party has antagonized its association with BPF by cobbling closer with United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL),-BPF’s rival to contest the elections to the 40 member Bodoland Territorial Council in December 2020. Though Bhartiya Janta Party has an understanding with the Asom Gana Parishad, this is also not working out in its favour, after its leader and founder Prafulla Mahanta expressed his anguish over the implementation of CAA in the state after the elections.
The BJP has expressed its displeasure over former Assam Chief Minister Mahanta’s statements, but the reading is right there on the wall. Helping the Congress to secure its grip over power in the state, the party may find it competitive after the demise of its veteran leader Tarun Gogoi who had considerable clout in the political landscape of the state, enjoying the goodwill of different cultures and communities.
However, Congress has evolved and matured from the last time it contested elections on its own leading to the splitting of votes aiding the ascendancy of the Bhartiya Janta Party in Assam. The Mahajath alliance comprising the Congress, Left, AIUDF and RJD may gain voter traction given the discontent and disdain of BJPs allies Bodoland People’s Front, Asom Gana Parishad. UPPF may not favour Sarbanand Sonowal’s short at power or who knows if the chief ministership gets awarded to Himanta Biswas Sharma after the declaration of results.
The BJP over the last year and a half has been restive with its allies like Shivsena, Akali Dal who have been with them traditionally. Shying away from building consensus and confidence for riding over the passage of controversial and contentious bills and legislations. CAA, NRC, Farm Agitation are some of the glaring illustrations of how the present regime has misused its mandate for furthering its ideological propaganda of Hindutva alienating, isolating and dividing the people on class and communal lines.
If we as citizens cease to exist than how would democracy and the idea of constitutionalism be preserved, protected and promoted?