BTC election results: BPF wins 17 seats, UPPL 12 and BJP 9

results of 40-member Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) poll have led to a hung House with ruling Bodo Peoples' Front (BPF) emerging as single largest party winning 17 seats, election officials said on Sunday.

United Peoples' Party Liberal (UPPL) won 12 seats, BJP nine, while Congress and Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) bagged one seat each.

BPF and BJP, both alliance partners in state government, h contested BTC election separately and both parties h indulged in a bitter campaign against each or.

BJP and UPPL did t anunce any formal alliance but both have indicated of a possible post-poll pact in case of a hung Council.

UPPL chief Promod Brahma, who won from two seats - Goyrabari and Kokilabari in Baksa district - BJP Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP state unit president Ranjit Kumar Das and BJP National General Secretary and Mangaldoi MP Dilip Saikia were engd in Saturday late night deliberations on BTC poll and ir decision regarding formation of Council is likely to be anunced later in day.

Sarma told reporters that decision will be anunced after discussions with Chief Minister Sarbananda Sowal.

election to Council was held after a fresh Bodo Accord was signed in New Delhi on January 27 by leers of all four factions of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB)- n All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) Chief Pramod Boro, n BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sowal.

BTC election is considered to be semi-final to Assam Assembly poll due in April next year.

counting of ballot papers for 40-member house began on Saturday and continued till Sunday morning.

Among prominent winners are BPF Chief Hagrama Mohilary who won from Debergaon seat but lost Kachugaon seat to UPPL candidate Ukil Mushahary.

Some or prominent winners include Fresh Mushahary, Dhananjoy Basumatary, Saikhong Basumatary, James Basumatary, Paniram Brahma of BPF, UPPL's Nilot Swargiary, Sanjoy Swargiary, Daibausa Bodo and Ranjit Basumatary and BJP's Bhabendra Bodo, Diganta Barua, Abhiram Mahanayak and Dipak More.

Among prominent losers are outgoing Deputy Chief Executive Member Khampa Borgoyary, Shyam Chundi of BPF while all four sitting members of AIUDF lost with party failing to open an account in Council polls.

election to BTC cover four districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri which falls under Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

poll was earlier scheduled on April four but Assam State Election Commission h deferred election to March 20 due to COVID-19 pandemic after withdrawal of mination papers and preparation of final list of candidates on March 22.

filing of minations and scrutiny h been completed by March 20 and term of house ended on April 27 with Goverr Jagish Mukhi taking over ministration of Council.