Allies turned opponents UPPL, BJP promise lasting peace in Assam’s BTC poll manifestos

Allies United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), rivals in 30 of the 40 constituencies across the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), have promised lasting peace in their respective manifestos for the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).

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The BTC governs the 8,970 sqkm BTR, which borders Bhutan. They released their vision documents for the September 22, 2025 elections within 72 hours of each other.

The BJP was the first to release its vision document on September 12, 2025 in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and State party president Dilip Saikia. The party outlined eight core commitments to fulfil the aspirations of the 3.5 million people across the BTR, comprising five districts.

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“The BTR witnessed a new dawn of peace, prosperity, and rapid progress in the past few years. The financial allocation to the BTR increased from ₹100 crore in 2016 to ₹1,500 crore in 2025, reflecting the unwavering commitment of both the Central and State Governments to the development of the region,” the Chief Minister said. He underscored the “solemn resolve” of the party to “construct” a more peaceful, secure, and developed BTR.

Releasing the UPPL vision document on Sunday (September 14, 2025), party president and BTC chief Pramod Boro underlined his party’s five-prong commitment to a more peaceful, cleaner, greener, and happier BTR.

Happiness index

The commitments are under five broad categories – Maa (mother/women), Maati (land), Jaati (community), Shiksha (education), and Shanti (peace).

“The strength of Bodoland lies in the well-being of our women. Our commitment is to empower mothers, sisters, and daughters with equal opportunities in education, livelihood, leadership and social security for the positive change we seek,” Mr. Boro said.

He said when the UPPL took charge of BTR with its allies in 2020, it inherited a region shattered by widespread corruption, authoritarian and ineffective governance, recurring violence, bloodshed, and loss of precious lives over 17 years of rule by the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF).

“We tried to walk the talk by establishing peace, delivering equal rights, justice and opportunities for all 26 communities inhabiting the BTR, establishing transparent, accountable, and corruption-free governance, ensuring sustainable development, and accelerating the implementation of the Bodo Peace Accord of 2020,” Mr. Boro said.

“Our vision document is a commitment to continuing with our efforts to rebuild Bodoland and upgrading our projects that balance growth with environmental conservation and bring in long-term happiness for the people,” he said.

Apart from financial support for women under various ongoing schemes, the UPPL has promised land rights for all bona fide citizens of the BTR and house construction support for all families; completion of all-weather road connectivity to 3,163 villages by 2029; protection of linguistic and cultural identity of all 26 communities in the region; stipends for students and coaching assistance for competitive exams; and establish the Bodoland International School of Peace and Happiness at Tamulpur by 2027.

The UPPL is contesting all 40 seats in the BTR, while the BJP is contesting 30. Their rivals, BPF and Congress, are contesting 40 seats each, and the Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) is contesting 11 seats.

The UPPL heads the alliance government in the BTR with the BJP and the GSP. Together, they have 31 seats, while the BPF has nine.