Voting Underway for Bodoland Territorial Council Elections in Assam

On Monday, polling for the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections commenced at 7:30 a.m. across five districts in Assam—Baksa, Chirang, Kokrajhar, Tamulpur, and Udalguri.

The elections, which will determine the occupants of the 40 council seats, feature 316 candidates and will continue until 4 p.m. 

Officials reported a strong voter turnout in the early hours at the 3,359 polling stations, with no incidents of unrest noted so far.

A total of 2,658,153 eligible voters, including 1,334,600 women, are set to cast their ballots in this significant election. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to X to encourage residents of the five districts to participate, stating, "Your vote is crucial for a prosperous and developed Bodoland Territorial Region. Choose thoughtfully and vote responsibly."

For the first time, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting the BTC elections independently, without forming an alliance. The Congress and several smaller parties have also fielded candidates, but the primary contest is between the United Peoples' Party Liberal (UPPL), led by current BTC chief Pramod Boro, and the Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF). The UPPL currently governs the council in a coalition with the BJP and the Gana Suraksha Party (GSP).

In the previous BTC elections, the UPPL secured 12 seats, the BJP won nine, and the GSP claimed one. The BPF, which held power for three consecutive terms prior, emerged as the largest party with 17 seats, while the Congress won one seat, though its member later defected to the BJP.

To facilitate voting, a public holiday has been declared in the five districts. The counting of votes is scheduled for September 26, 2025.