Kokrajhar: Eyeing the 2020 general election of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), independent MP Naba Kumar Sarania (Hira) announced on Wednesday that he has decided to float a new political party by October this year.
The move by Sarania, a former commander of the 709 battalion of militant outfit United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), comes following Bodo Pople’s Front (BPF), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and United Peoples’ Party Liberal (UPPL) trying to forge an alliance in the BTC region before the council polls to attract the common residents.
Necessary strategies have been put in place to float the new political party in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD), said Sarania, adding that it would be formally declared by October 15. He said that the new party will put candidates in over 35 seats, as against last elections, where he expected only about 25-27 seats.
Further, the MP said that the BPF-ruled council administration is losing faith among the people and that is why people want a change of guard in BTAD to explore developmental aspects and welfare of the community.
Speaking on scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir and a similar situation arising in Assam, Sarania said that it is not acceptable that the people who have been living here for decades should lose their rights in the name of the 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. “That is why the tribals should come forward, otherwise we will face a Jammu & Kashmir-like situation here. Others will say you have enjoyed the privileges of being tribal for 70 years, for how long do you want these privileges because… That is why I say that we will only be able to resolve the issues between the tribals and the non-tribals if there is an understanding between them,” said the two-time Parliamentarian.
In 2014, Sariania created history when he won by the highest margin ever recorded in polls in Assam and as an independent candidate in the history of Lok Sabha elections. Saraniya continued his journey in Parliament by winning the 17th Lok Sabha election in Kokrajhar constituency for a second term.
Resolute on his stance of solving the Bodo and non-Bodo dispute, he said, “Naba Sarania is not someone who will indulge in politics but since I have already stepped in the domain, I will only quit politics on the day when I can resolve these issues.”
Sarania further urged for unity among Bodos and non-Bodos so that a solution can be worked out for a better future.
