GUWAHATI: The Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), which swept the elections to Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), has staked its claim to form the next government in the autonomous council and announced the construction of a memorial park in honour of music legend Zubeen Garg, who died under mysterious circumstances while swimming in Singapore on 19 September.
A delegation of the BPF, led by party president Hagrama Mohilary, met Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at the Raj Bhavan in Guwahati on Sunday and formally staked its claim to form the new government.
Mohilary, who will take over as the Chief Executive Member of the BTC, invited Acharya to attend the swearing-in ceremony on 3 October in Kokrajhar.
“The Governor has assured us of his presence,” the BPF chief told the media after meeting Acharya.
He also said that the BPF would invite Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to the swearing-in ceremony, adding that the party would want at least one Cabinet Minister to attend it.
Mohilary stated that the BPF had discussed on Saturday that if any party came forward to extend support, it would not be rejected. “UPPL (United People’s Party Liberal) said it would support us. We haven’t rejected it. The Chief Minister expressed willingness to work with us. I welcome it. We will have another discussion within the BPF on the matter of support,” he said.
Talking about priorities, Mohilary said his main goal would be to give land pattas to people. “We had promised during the election campaign that we would give land pattas to people, if voted to power, and they wholeheartedly supported us in the elections. We won’t forget their support,” he said.
He announced that a memorial park would be built in Kokrajhar in honour of music legend Zubeen Garg. “We will also build his statue,” the former rebel leader-turned-politician announced.
Mohilary also visited the Guwahati residence of the singer and met the latter’s wife Garima Saikia Garg. “I am happy to visit the house of Zubeen Da. He will continue to live in our hearts. We, the people of Assam, will never forget his contributions,” Mohilary said.
The BPF had bagged 28 of the BTC’s 40 seats, ousting the BJP and the UPPL from power. The BJP and the UPPL had finished with five and seven seats respectively.