A day after Bodoland Territorial Council chief and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) president Hagrama Mohilary announced Raju Bharal as the BPF candidate for the Dihira constituency of Baksa district, a section of BPF party workers opposed his choice of candidate and attempted to set ablaze the

Dihira block BPF office on Sunday.

Mohilary released the names of 13 candidates in Udalguri on Saturday which included Bharal’s name.

“Several party workers and supporters of former MCLA (Member Council of Legislative Assembly) Moonsingh Brahma openly objected to Bharal’s nomination from Dihira constituency. Later they tried to torch the BPF block office after vandalising the party office and tearing the party’s flags on Sunday morning,” said a BPF leader of Baksa.

“Brahma is a known face and enjoys the support of every community. We had been trying to make him win in this constituency for months. Now suddenly the BPF top brass declared another candidate without taking into confidence any ground report. So we demand Bharal be replaced by Brahma,” said a woman supporter of Brahma who is a BPF party worker.

Bharal said: “The Gorkhas have not been represented ever since the inception of BTC. This triggered widespread resentment among people of the community. But this time the BPF has named me and I am grateful to the party for that. There are more than three lakh Gorkhas in the BTC out of nearly 32 lakh population.”

He reiterated that Hagrama Mohilary-led BPF had been instrumental in making good roads and other development work.

The Udalguri chapter of the All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union, Somraj Sonar, echoed him.

He said: “Despite having a population of three lakh, we never got any representation earlier. But this time the BPF have honoured us. Despite being a non-political students’ organisation, we will openly extend our support to Bharal as a BPF candidate and ensure his victory with a landslide margin.”

On Sunday, Mohilary announced the third list containing names of six candidates.

They are Suresh Tanti for Nonai Serfang constituency, Phailao Basumatary for Dhansiri constituency, former NDFB leader Dhiren Boro for Kokilabari constituency, George Basumatary for Kachugaon constituency, Dhananjoy Basumatary for Manas Serfang constituency and Rohindra Basumatary for Guma constituency.

The BPF has named candidates in 37 constituencies leaving Fakiragram and Nagrijuli for the BJP and Thuribari for the AGP.

Mohilary is confident of winning more than 25 seats.