According to a report by "The Indian Express" on September 29, the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) of Assam's Bodoland region won the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) election, adding uncertainty to the 2026 Assam state elections. In the 2025 Bodoland Territorial Council election, Hagrama Mohilary-led BPF won 28 out of 40 seats, higher than the previous 17 seats, while the BJP's seats dropped from 9 to 5. Despite the BJP's first independent participation in the BTC election and the strong support from Chief Minister Sarma of Assam's BJP, it was still unable to prevent the reduction in its seats. The BTC was established in 2003 and has autonomy under the 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, governing the Bodoland region in western Assam covering an area of about 8,970 square kilometers with a population of over 3 million (Editor's note: This region has long pursued independence since India's independence, and armed rebellion issues have plagued it for decades). The BTC election is considered a "rehearsal" for the upcoming Assam state election. The BJP has been ruling in Assam since 2016. The party has long maintained dominance in the region by forming alliances with certain BTR local parties, and controlling the political forces of the BTC is often crucial "kingmaker". Currently, Sarma is still trying to downplay the impact of the BJP's defeat, congratulating the BPF leader for winning the election, and claiming that the BPF is also part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), so "the NDA won all 40 seats".
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1844773875473419/
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