GUWAHATI: Cracks are appearing in Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), the political party formed by former militants turned politicians in the wake of signing of the Bodo peace Accord in 2003 and disbanding of the militant Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) in 2004.
The BPF now is in power in Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District Council (BTADC) and has 12 MLAs in Assam Assembly. The party is also the only ally of ruling Congress in the state.
However, the uneasy atmosphere and clashes of egos within the regional party has come to the fore with two of its senor leaders taking confronting postures in public.
A senior BPF legislator and the for executive member of the BTADC Hitesh Basumatary is preparing to float a new political party in Bodo tribe dominated areas in Assam because of his differences with the party leadership.
However, it has been reacted very sharply by BPF president and chief executive member (CEM) of the BTADC Hagrama Mohilary who in public meeting at Borimukh in Baksa district under the BTADC on Friday alleged Hitesh Basumatary of possessing large number of illegal weapons and accused him of siphoning off over Rs 20 crore development fund meant for development of Baksa district areas.
Hagrma Mohilary and Hitesh Basumatary’s association dates back to their days in outlawed BLT ranks.
While Mohilary was the chairman of the now disbanded BLT, Basumatary was the military secretary of the outfit.
After signing of the Bodo peace Accord on February 10, 203, the interim BTADC was formed on February 10, 2004.
In the intervening period all the BLT was disbanded and all its cadres and leaders laid down arms and ammunition before the government.
However, allegations and apprehensions were rife amid anti-BTADC group s that a section of the leaders of the BLT managed to keep aside a huge quantity of arms and ammunition.