One of Assam’s senior ministers Pramila Rani Brahma vented her ire at the BJP on Sunday, a day after her alliance— the Bodoland People’s Front — had stepped out of the ruling party joined before the 2016 Assembly polls.

The BPF on Sunday afternoon officially followed the Congress-led grand alliance in Guwahati and radiated confidence in creating a non-BJP government with an outright majority. 

“How could we stay with the BJP after what they did to us? They informed us… repeatedly insulted us… telling publicly they will not ally with us during and after the BTC polls. They will ally with the new party (UPPL). That is why we left. State BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass had openly said the BPF has no shame because we have not left the government. But why should we leave? Our alliance is for five years,” Pramila, the 1951-born social welfare minister said trying to justify the end of their alliance with the BJP.

Although the BPF lost the power of the BTC after 17 long years in December notwithstanding coming tantalizingly close to holding power by winning 17 council seats, three short of the majority, it still has the manpower (12 MLAs, of whom three are still ministers in the BJP-led government) and areas of influence that could impact the BJP-UPPL poll prospects.

The BPF had ended its 13-year alliance with Congress in June 2014 citing a lack of development of the BTC under the Congress-led government. One key reason was, however, the change of guard at the Centre — Narendra Modi-led NDA government replacing Manmohan Singh-led UPA regime.

The Congress-led alliance embraced the development for it gave a huge boost to its drive to remove the “divisive” BJP in the state polls to be held in three phases — March 27, April 1, and 6.

This was reflected in PC chief Ripun Borah said, “The Congress-led Mahajot has developed its power to seven as our old friend, the Bodoland People’s Front, have followed us today. Many tributaries join together to make a strong river and the Congress-led Mahajot gets one more partner, the BPF. We are coming to power on May 2. We will resolve all poll-related issues by March 5. We also take this opportunity to request the Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls.”

Besides the Congress and the BPF, the other constituents of the grand alliance included the Anchalik Gana Morcha, AIUDF, CPI, CPI (M), and the CPI (ML). BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary said they have formally joined the Mahahjot because of the current situation under the BJP.