Kokrajhar (Assam) [India], August 7 : Ahead of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections, incumbent Chief Executive Member of the BTC and the President of United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), Pramod Boro, on Thursday, said that the public has experienced change under their government.
Speaking to ANI, Boro said that the UPPL government has worked for the people and brought peace in the region, and the people will vote for them.
He said, "This is the second election after our government came into power. We have worked for the public for five years. These were the first five years after Independence when the people got a chance to live peacefully. Earlier, there was violence and bloodshed here, but people experienced a change under the UPPL government. I hope UPPL will get a good result in the polls."
He claimed that UPPL is the only party that raises the issues of peace, unity and transparency in governance.
"National parties and regional parties are campaigning here, but the public is inclined towards UPPL. UPPL is the only party that talks about peace, unity and transparency in governance. These elections would not be difficult for us. In 2015, Brahma ji (Urkhao Gwra Brahma) founded the party, and we celebrated 10 years of UPPL on foundation day on August 5," Pramod Boro said.
He added that the development of the region will be the key issue for the upcoming elections.
"There was no development in the sector for years. There were movements, violence and army and police operations. Earlier, peace and security were the issues; now that people have got them, so development is the major issue for the polls. We have prepared the master plan for development," the UPPL chief said.
"Earlier, identity, language and culture were the issues, and our government has worked towards providing safety to all communities," he added.
On reports of alliance with the Bodoland People's Front (BPF), he said that it is not possible as the parties think differently.
"A community-based organisation works for the particular community; similarly, there are several organisations in Bodoland. In a democracy, parties and thinking are different. If regional groups can unite, it would be good, but I do not think it is possible. We aim to work for the 35 lakh population and 26 communities," the UPPL chief said.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party has begun their campaign for the polls scheduled for September.
On August 3, the Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, held an event under the slogan "BJP for Progressive BTR."
"Residents were reported to have queued on the roads along the Chief Minister's route from the Khalingduar constituency to Mangaldoi, offering garlands, gamochas, and enthusiastic greetings. Many reportedly urged the Chief Minister to extend the ongoing eviction operations to certain parts of BTR as well. Large crowds gathered at key junctions such as Balipara and Khairapara on the Kalaigaon-Bengmari route, where they were said to have expressed their endorsement of the government's policy and appealed for continued action against encroachments, particularly targeting settlements identified as being occupied by the illegal encroachers. In an unusual but symbolic show of unity, members of the local Muslim community in Mangaldoi, known as the hometown of Assam's Language Movement martyr Mozammil Hoque, were reported to have joined the public assemblage," a press release said.