Assam: BPF Demands Election Commission to Immediately Conduct Election in BTC

Guwahati, April 29, 2020:

After the imposition of the Governor's Rule in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), representatives of the Bodoland People's Front (BPF), approaching the Election Commission of Assam, have sought the immediate conduct of the elections, originally slated to be held on April 4.

In a memorandum to the election commission of Assam, the BPF has said that recently, during a cabinet meeting, a decision had been taken to conduct BTC election, 2020, through an "innovative idea."

The BPF has now urged the commission to "take appropriate steps so as to conduct the BTC Election 2020 at the earliest in accordance with the innovative steps and measures suggested by the State Government in its recent cabinet meeting."

It is pertinent to note here that several of the BPF party's leadership, including the Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary, have been vocally opposed to Governor's Rule in the region.

Addressing the media yesterday, Daimary said that under the provision of the Constitution, the Governor cannot assume powers in the Council. “After the expiry of the Government, when due to some special reason, when the Governor thinks it is impossible to conduct elections, the Council can be extended by 6 months. If the situation continues, it can be extended for another 6 months”, Daimary said.

The MP also said that the Governor does not have discretionary powers in the BTC region, unlike other areas in Assam. In regards to the Governor’s Rule, he said that under the 20(b)(a) of the Constitution, the Governor has discretionary powers in Karbi Anglong and NC Hills only.

Daimary said that the Constitution specifies that the Governor can only assume the rule if the Council of Ministers advises him/her to take such a step. “However, our Government had advised that as per the Constitution’s sixth schedule’s paragraph 2 sublause 6(a), the regime must be extended.”

The MP said that this new phase of Governor’s Rule will greatly inconvenience the people of the region as no one can take any decisions in the grassroots level, as all permissions have to be taken from the Governor. He further called for an election at the earliest so that a Government can be elected to power.

Meanwhile, addressing mediapersons earlier today, Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) leader Hagrama Mohilary said his party had sought a six months’ extension from the Governor, however, it was turned down. He has now appealed for peace, and urged his party workers and supporters not to “take tension” and exuded confidence that his party would once again for the Government in the Council.

Responding to a query on whether the Governor’s Rule is a result of a “conspiracy” by the BJP party, which would have fought the election separately, he said, “I do not know if it is a conspiracy of the BJP; all I can say is, we had asked the Government for an extension, but it was turned down. I am not officially the BTC Chief, but I am still the chief.”

It may be mentioned here that the decision to exercise Governor’s Rule in the region was taken on April 27, the day the tenure of the Government came to an end.

“The Governor of Assam has now assumed to himself with immediate effect the administration of the said districts and all functions and powers are vested in or exercisable by the Bodoland Territorial Council”, read a notification undersigned by M Angamuthu, Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Assam.

It is pertinent to mention here that Inside Northeast earlier in the month had published a report that prophesied that Governor’s Rule would be enforced in the region, upon failure to conduct polls. The report, published on April 8, stated, “Governor’s Rule is likely to be imposed in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) from April 27 onwards, Inside Northeast has been informed by top official sources.”

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