Assam: BTC Elections Set for September 22, A High-Stakes Battle in Bodoland Territorial Region

GUWAHATI- The Assam State Election Commission has announced that the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) General Elections will be held on September 22, 2025, across 40 constituencies in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). Seen as a key political battleground ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly polls, the election is expected to witness an intense contest between the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF).

 Election Schedule

• Filing of nominations: By September 2
• Scrutiny of papers: September 4
• Final list of candidates: September 6 (also last date for withdrawals)
• Polling day: September 22 (7:30 AM to 4:00 PM)
• Counting of votes: September 26 (from 8:00 AM)
• Completion of process: By September 28

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The Model Code of Conduct has come into force across the BTR districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Udalguri, and Tamulpur.

BTC at a Glance

Established in 2003 under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, the BTC administers over 9,000 sq. km and represents the Bodo people along with other indigenous communities. Of its 40 elected seats, 30 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes, 5 for non-tribals, and 5 remain open. Additionally, 6 members are nominated by the Governor of Assam.

Political Stakes

The UPPL-BJP coalition, led by Chief Executive Member Pramod Boro, is campaigning on a “peace-driven development model,” buoyed by its recent win in the Sidli by-election. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, campaigning across 36 council areas, voiced confidence: “BJP is in a very good position, and we will get good results.”

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The BPF, once the dominant force in BTC politics (2003–2020), is trying to regain lost ground under Hagrama Mohilary. Despite weakening due to defections—most notably Biswajit Daimary’s shift to the BJP—the BPF still commands grassroots support.

In the 2020 BTC elections, the BPF secured 17 seats, UPPL 12, BJP 9, while GSP and Congress won one each, resulting in a hung council. The subsequent coalition of UPPL-BJP-GSP sidelined the BPF, marking a turning point in BTR politics.

Voter Dynamics

With 26.58 lakh registered voters (13.23 lakh male, 13.34 lakh female, and 17 others) spread across 3,279 polling stations, the election is poised to shape the future of governance in the BTR. Issues of peace, ethnic identity, and development are expected to dominate campaign narratives, as parties court the electorate in one of Assam’s most politically sensitive regions.