Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Guwahati, April 27 2009:
In a major development, the pro-talks group of the proscribed Bodo based militant outfit National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) on Monday disclosed that it had supported Congress, BJP and Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) in the just-concluded Parliamentary elections in Assam.
The spokesman of the Bodo militant outfit B.Bodosa said the NDFB had helped sitting MP and Congress candidate from Tezpur Mani Kumar Subba in larger interest of the Bodos.
Bodosa said NDFB also helped BJP and AUDF but did not mention the names of the candidates.
However, BJP has refused to make any comments on the statement by NDFB while Congress and AUDF were not available for comments.
In a statement NDFB came a day after Bodoland People's Front (BPF) chief Hagrama Mahilary embarrassed the Congress by alleging that the insurgent group had helped some Congress candidates for the current Lok Sabha elections in lieu of money.
BPF is an ally of Congress led ruling Assam Government.
Mahillary, who was also the chief of erstwhile terror group Bodo Liberation Tigers, alleged that NDFB had helped BJP and AUDF in lieu of money.
But the NDFB spokesman claimed, ''We haven't taken any money for helping the three parties.
On the contrary, it was Hagrama, who helped and took rupees fifty lakhs from BJP MP from Mongoldai Narayan Borkotoky in the last Parliamentary elections''.
The spokesman said NDFB offered its support to Subba for solution of the problems of tribal Bodos living under Tezpur Lok Sabha constituency.
''As we have already expressed our faith in the Constitution of India and come forward to hold peace talks with the Govt, we are free to extend our support to any candidate fighting the elections'', the NDFB spokesman asserted.
The NDFB also described as baseless the allegation of Hagrama.