Early trends show a close battle in BTR as BPF gains ground, BJP holds 9 seats, and UPPL 10, while Congress struggles to secure any lead.
BY PC Bureau
September 26, 2025 – The fifth general elections to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) have set the stage for a dramatic political shift in Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). As vote counting continues under tight security, late evening trends indicate a comfortable victory for the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) anda route for the BJP.
Out of the 40 council constituencies—30 reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs), five for non-STs, and five unreserved—the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) has surged into the lead with 24 seats. The ruling BJP and its ally, the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), trail closely with 6 and ten seats , according to trends from multiple counting centers across the region. An Independent candidate is also leading in one seat. According to some other reports, BPF was leading at 23 seats.
In the 2020 BTC elections, the BJP secured 9 seats. This performance marked a significant increase from their previous tally of 1 seat in the 2015 elections. The BJP’s improved showing in 2020 was part of a coalition with the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), which won 12 seats. Together, these parties formed the executive council, with UPPL’s Pramod Boro becoming the Chief Executive Member of the BTC. The Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), which emerged as the single largest party with 17 seats.
BTC Election 2025 Results 🗳️
🔸 BPF – 23
🔸 BJP – 10
🔸 UPPL – 07BPF sweeps past majority! 🔥
BJP pushed down, UPPL sidelined — the people of Bodoland have spoken loud & clear: Local power wins, BJP loses.#BTCElection2025 #AssamPolitics #SaveBodoland pic.twitter.com/RZdAcStC74— Shahid 🫒 (@ishahid66) September 26, 2025
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The elections, held peacefully on September 22 with an impressive 78.42% voter turnout among 26.58 lakh eligible voters, saw 316 candidates vying for all 40 council seats spread across Kokrajhar, Chirang, Udalguri, Baksa, and Tamulpur districts.
This outcome is significant as it signals a shift in the political landscape of the Bodoland Territorial Region, with the BPF regaining prominence after a period of diminished influence. For the BJP, contesting the BTC polls independently for the first time, the results mark a major setback—particularly for Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had left nothing to chance in the campaign.
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Counting commenced at 8 a.m. at eight designated centers, supervised by District Commissioners and Returning Officers, with heavy police deployment to ensure a smooth process. BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary, the former BTC chief and a towering figure in Bodo politics, is locked in a fierce contest in Kokrajhar’s Debargaon constituency. After four rounds of counting, Mohilary trails UPPL’s Khampa Borgayari by a narrow margin—9,700 votes to over 10,000—highlighting the razor-thin margins defining this poll.
In another key battle, UPPL president and incumbent BTC Chief Executive Member Pramod Boro is contesting from Dotma and Goibari, facing stiff opposition from BPF challengers. The contest pits the BPF, which dominated the 2020 elections with 17 seats, against the BJP-UPPL-Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) alliance that has held sway since then. The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), allied with the BJP, is contesting just two seats: Baokhungri and Srirampur. Notably, the Congress has yet to secure a lead in any constituency, underscoring the regional dominance of Bodo-centric parties.
“This is more than an election—it’s a semifinal for the 2026 Assam Assembly polls,” said a senior BJP leader, echoing sentiments from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who earlier admitted that the BJP’s performance might fall short of expectations this time. Sarma’s aggressive campaigning, including multiple rallies, aimed to bolster the alliance’s hold on the BTR, promising enhanced welfare schemes like including five lakh BTR women in the Orunodoi Scheme and constitutional safeguards for land rights.
In Kokrajhar, which boasts 12 constituencies and 100 candidates, the BPF’s traditional strongholds appear resilient, though the BJP-UPPL combine is mounting a comeback in Udalguri and Baksa.
A minor hiccup occurred in Parbatjhora, where counting started an hour late, but officials confirmed the process is now on track. The State Election Commission has set up helpdesks for real-time updates, emphasizing transparency in this autonomous council that administers key aspects of development, education, and culture in the BTR.
The final outcome, expected by late evening, will not only determine the next BTC executive but also signal the balance of power in Assam’s tribal heartland ahead of next year’s state elections. For now, the BTR holds its breath in this pulsating democratic exercise.
