Pramod Boro Poised for Unprecedented Triple Governance Role in Indian Politics
Guwahati: In a potential political milestone, Pramod Boro, the president of the United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), is on the verge of achieving a rare feat in India's governance system. If he secures victory from the Tamulpur constituency on May 4, Boro will simultaneously occupy three distinct tiers of governance: as a Rajya Sabha MP, a member of the Bodo Territorial Council (BTC), and an MLA.
Current Positions and Strategic Moves
Boro, a 51-year-old former president of the All Bodo Students' Union, is already an elected member of the BTC. He recently took oath as a Rajya Sabha MP from Assam on Thursday, following an unopposed election last month alongside two other BJP members, Terash Gowalla and Jogen Mohan, to fill three vacant seats in the Upper House.
In an interview with TOI after his swearing-in, Boro outlined his plans, stating he will resign from the Rajya Sabha if he wins the Tamulpur seat. He emphasized that "an MLA is constitutionally more empowered to address state-level and local issues, while an MP is more into national issues." This decision underscores his focus on grassroots governance.
Prioritizing Local and State-Level Concerns
Boro further explained that he intends to resign as an MCLA (member of council legislative assembly of BTC) as well, citing pressing state-level and local issues with unresolved community concerns. He noted, "The state-level and local issues are pressing, with long-pending community concerns unresolved. At the national stage we already have an MP. National politics is about major constitutional amendments, but at the state level more powers lie in addressing people's everyday issues." This rationale highlights his preference for the MLA role over the MP position.
He referenced Dr. Jayanta Rongpi from Karbi Anglong, who served as both a member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and an MP, but not an MLA, as a partial precedent. However, Boro's potential triple role would be unique in its scope.
Political Strategy and Future Alliances
Boro clarified that the Rajya Sabha seat was not initially part of UPPL's agenda, attributing it to their association with the NDA. "Rajya Sabha was not in our agenda — it came our way since we were part of the NDA. Our target is the assembly, so we contested. We will see if the Rajya Sabha seat can be retained," he said.
Regarding political alliances, UPPL partnered with BJP during the 2021 polls but was later sidelined by BJP in favor of the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) ahead of this year's elections. Boro stated, "We have not yet decided on partnering the NDA. We contested the assembly elections alone and are under no compulsion. The state and the council will be our priority. At present, we are more comfortable standing independently. Looking at the state's future, we will take a decision." He expressed confidence in UPPL's prospects, predicting wins in 12 out of the 18 seats contested.
This development marks a significant moment in Assam's political landscape, with Boro's potential triple role reflecting broader shifts in regional governance and party dynamics.
