The Bodoland Imam Council has issued a strong appeal to Muslim voters throughout the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), imploring them to refrain from supporting political parties that promote communal agendas.
During a press briefing in Kokrajhar, western Assam, on Friday, the council’s president, Hafiz Qutubuddin, articulated deep concerns. He stated that the divisive nature of communal politics poses a significant threat to the unity and peaceful coexistence within India’s richly diverse society.
He eloquently compared India to a vibrant garden, where individuals from various faiths and ethnic backgrounds flourish like unique flowers. Qutubuddin stressed the imperative to resist parties that engage in communal politics, warning that such actions are detrimental to the very essence of this beautiful national garden.
Identifying both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All India United Democratic Front (led by Maulana Badruddin Ajmal) as communal forces, Qutubuddin advised minority communities to instead consider supporting regional parties with a more secular outlook.
According to Mr. Qutubuddin, only the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) and the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) offer genuine alternatives. He highlighted the UPPL’s track record of fostering unparalleled peace and its consistent demonstration of secular principles.
He further emphasized that Muslim and other minority communities should cast their votes for leaders and parties genuinely committed to safeguarding their rights and interests.
The critical elections for the Bodoland Territorial Council, encompassing 40 constituencies throughout the BTR, are slated for September 22. The intense election campaign is set to conclude at 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
Currently, the coalition government in the BTR is led by the Pramod Boro-headed UPPL, which governs alongside its allies, the BJP and the Gana Suraksha Party.
The BPF, formerly led by Hagrama Mohilary, a politician who transitioned from extremist roots, held power in the BTR for 17 years, from 2003 to 2020. Interestingly, the BPF also previously shared an alliance with the BJP.