Guwahati/Kokrajhar, March 19: Left high and dry by its ally, the Bodoland Peoples Front, the Congress is contemplating contesting on its own 24 of the 40 seats in the Bodoland Territorial Council polls, scheduled for April 9.

After two meetings since last night, a high-powered PCC committee zeroed in on eight seats each in Udalguri and Baksa districts, three in Chirang and five in Kokrajhar for “friendly” contests.

The highlight of the proposal was not to field candidates against top-rung BPF leaders, including its president Hagrama Mohilary, as a “goodwill” gesture in deference to the cordial ties with the party at Dispur.

The Congress had to take the decision as it, too, was under tremendous pressure from its rank and file in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD). “Had we backed off, we would have faced similar protests from our workers as the BPF is facing now. We should be winning anything between 10 and 15 seats. It’s good for the party, which was dying a slow death in the BTAD. Moreover, fighting alone will save us from sharing seats in the next Assembly elections too,” a PCC source claimed.

The PCC committee, comprising Assam Accord minister Bhumidhar Barman, health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, associate Congress MLA Chandi Basumatary, PCC vice-president Y.L. Karna and secretary Rana Khan, sat for nearly three hours at Barman’s residence in Guwahati this morning before submitting its proposal to PCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita for approval.

Last night, four BTAD district presidents of the Congress, sitting MLA Moloya Barman, and two former MLAs Paniram Rabha and Madab Kalita met members of the committee and suggested that the party contest 25 seats. While Udalguri district president Deben Swargiary, Baksa district president Bikramsingh Brahma and Kokrajhar district president Lohan Brahma met the committee, Chirang working president Supriya Rani Brahma attended the meeting in place of the district president, Sambhu Charan Barman.

On Wednesday, the BPF had decided to leave eight seats to the Congress besides half of the six nominated seats in the BTC elections. However, it did a volte face yesterday, saying it would contest all the 40 seats following protests by party workers against seat-sharing with the Congress in the BTAD.

Resentment over selection of candidates continued in the BPF today with its Bairabkunda block committee resigning en masse and locking the party office.

In Udalguri, workers burnt the effigies of ministers Chandan Brahma, Rihon Daimary and Pramila Rani Brahma in protest against the developments surrounding the polls.

The day also saw 10 BPF candidates, including Mohilary, file their nominations. Parbatjora candidate Maruti Rani Narzary has decided not to contest as she did not get the seat of her choice.

The Congress candidates will file their nominations between March 21 and 23.

The 24 seats identified by the PCC committee are Parbatjora, Goma, Sreerampur, Kakiragram and Baokhumri in Kokrajhar district, Thuribari, Kajalgaon and Subaijhar in Chirang district, Tamulpur, Nagrijuli, Sukhlaiserphang, Mathanguri, Kuklabari, Salbari, Goreswar and Bagenpara in Baksa district and Narnoiserphang, Pasnoiserphang, Mudoibari, Rowta, Bhairabkunda, Dhansiri, Khelingdwar and Harsingha in Udalguri district.