Rajya Sabha MP and one of the mainstays of the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), Biswajit Daimary, resigned as working president of the party on Wednesday, the first step before he formally joins the ruling BJP to work “at the state and national level for development of all”.

The development, BPF watchers said, could impact the party not only in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) polls next month but also the ties between the BJP and BPF, coalition partners at Dispur, after the election.

BPF has been ruling the BTC since its first polls in 2005.

“He was one of the BPF mainstays, part of the think tank. He used to help take care of the party’s affairs in Delhi and Dispur. His advice was valued. His departure will definitely have an impact,” a source said.

A former All Bodo Students’ Union leader, Daimary, 49, was first elected as an MLA in 2001 and has been a Rajya Sabha member since 2008. His present Rajya Sabha term will end in 2026.

Assam cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced a couple of days ago that Daimary will be leaving the BPF. Daimary, who is “very close” to Sarma, told The Telegraph that he has resigned from the party post on Wednesday and will join the BJP later this month, a development Congress said was aimed at weakening the BPF politically.

“As a RS member, I need to take stock of the legal impactions of my move because I was elected as a BPF member. But today I have announced I am on my way out. I am joining the BJP shortly because I want to work at the state and national level as I think all issues related to BTC has been settled after the signing of the January 27 Bodo Accord in Delhi,” Daimary told this newspaper.

Daimary said it was best for him to leave the BPF because there were “differences” with the leadership over the Bodo Accord, which BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary has not endorsed publicly despite being one of the signatories. Daimary also said there was no development roadmap.

“I have always wanted to work for the people of my state and country which I think will not be possible within the BPF. Time to move on. I now want to work for the state and the nation and the BJP is the right platform,” he said.

He also said BPF legislator Emmanuel Moshahary would be joining the BJP on November 20. The BPF has 12 MLAs in the Assembly of whom three are cabinet ministers in the BJP-led state government.

Campaigning has picked up for the BTC polls which is going to be a hard fought one with the BJP contesting 26 seats, the Congress 13 and the AIUDF on 7. The BPF is contesting 37 seats.

The polls were scheduled for April but had to be put off because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The BJP has claimed that it will form the next council while the BPF is certain of retaining power despite the challenge posed by United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), which is contesting on all 40 seats.

Assam PCC general secretary and senior spokesperson Durga Das Boro said the developments suggest the BJP was out to finish the BPF by poaching their leaders.

“The saffronisation of the BTC has begun,” Bora said.

“The Congress-AIUDF combine will win more than 10 seats,” Boro, who is also the Bodoland Territorial Region Congress Coordination Committee chairman, said.

He also criticised Daimary for allegedly stabbing the BPF in back.

“BJP has today projected Daimary as the next BPF chief if they are in a position to form the council,” Boro said.