Kokrajhar/ Guwahati, Aug 31 (PTI) The BJP and two key NDA constituents in Assam on Sunday announced candidates for the upcoming polls to the 40-member Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), with the saffron party fielding nominees in 28 seats, UPPL in 34 and the AGP in four segments so far.
The allies of the BJP-led NDA had decided to fight the BTC elections, scheduled for September 22, separately.
Incumbent BTC chief Pramod Boro was nominated from Goibari constituency by the United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) in its second list of 16 candidates announced during the day.
The party had earlier fielded 18 candidates and announced that it would contest in all the 40 BTC seats.
Boro's deputy Gobinda Basumatary from Bhairabkunda and former BTC deputy chief Kampa Borgoyari are among those named on the second list of the UPPL.
The BJP announced its first list of candidates, fielding nominees for 28 seats.
State party president Dilip Saikia declared the names in Guwahati and said it will field candidates in a few more seats, though it will not contest in all segments.
Rekharani Das Boro from Baganpara, Arup Kumar Dey from Fakiragram, Derhasar Narzary from Goreswar, Sanjit Tanti from Nonwi Serfang and Diganta Baruah from Mwdwibari are among the BJP nominees.
The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) named Bistu Ram Narzary from Baukhugri (ST reserved) seat, Manmohan Das from Mathanguri, Bipradip Talukdar from Srirampur and Parthajit Ray from Thuribari.
In the last BTC polls, UPPL had won 12 seats, the BJP nine and its ally Gana Suraksha Party one.
The Bodoland People's Party (BPF), which had been in power in BTC prior to the 2020 polls, had bagged 17 seats last time. The Congress' lone member in the council had joined the BJP.
The last date of filing nominations for BTC polls is September 2, while the documents will be scrutinised on September 4.
The candidates can withdraw their applications till September 6.
If there is any requirement for repolling in any constituency, it will be held on September 24.
The votes will be counted on September 26.
The total number of voters in the 40 constituencies spread across Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Tamulpur and Udalguri districts is 26,57,937, including 13,34,521 women and 17 others.
The voting will be held across 3,359 polling stations.