Why is the govt naming a South Delhi road after prominent Bodo leader Upendra Nath Brahma?

A notice dated April 3 from the MCD’s South Zone states: “Naming of Road from Lala Lajpat Rai Marg (near Kailash Colony Metro Station/A-18, Kailash Colony) to Lala Lajpat Rai Marg (near A-5/A-6, Kailash Colony) as ‘Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma Marg’ has been approved in anticipation of the Corporation’s final nod,” following directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In a post on X on April 26, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma thanked Home Minister Amit Shah for taking forward the proposal. He also posted a video, in which Shah, while addressing a rally, had announced the move. “Today, I have come to make an announcement. It has been decided to name a big road in Delhi after Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma ji,” he said.

Upendra Nath Brahma is called “Bodofa”, which means “father or guardian of the Bodos.” He served as president of the All Bodo Students’ Union and dedicated his life to championing the education and well-being of the Bodo community before passing away at the young age of 34 from cancer in 1990.

The move is seen as part of a broader political strategy, particularly with Assam headed to polls between March and April 2026. In the 2021 elections, the BJP had secured a majority, winning 64 of the 126 Assembly seats. Of the total tribal population of Assam (12.4%), the Bodo community makes up 35%. They constitute roughly 4.53% of the state’s total population of 3.12 crore, according to the 2011 Census. Most of the community is concentrated in the BTR and remains a critical voting bloc.

Sarma also shared the MCD’s decision on social media. “… @MCD_Delhi has approved the road from A5-A18 Kailash Colony as Bodofa Upendranath Brahma Marg which will be dedicated shortly to the nation, fulfilling a commitment made to the people of BTR by Adarniya Griha Mantri ji,” he wrote on X.

The reference to BTR — the Bodoland Territorial Region — underlines the symbolic outreach to Bodo voters who will vote in the local polls in five months. The BTC polls are said to be the harbinger of political trends ahead of the state elections.

BTC, an autonomous, self-governing body under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, is made up of Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang districts. In the 2020 BTC elections, the Bodo People’s Front (BPF) had gained 17 seats but an alliance with the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) had helped the BJP win control.

The renaming proposal, initially submitted by the MCD’s Engineering Department (letter dated March 24), was fast-tracked after a ministry directive (letter dated March 18).

While no formal ceremony date has been announced yet, officials confirmed that the renaming had received a nod from the MCD Commissioner and the Mayor. Official approval from the MCD House, which currently has a BJP government, will complete the process.