As the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts goes to polls in 2020, politicians and student and pro-talk militant organisations have started bristling with each other with the aim of grabbing power in the council.
After MP Hira Saraniya’s announcement to form ‘BTAD Sena’ to grab power in the BTC, National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Progressive) and All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) leaders lashed out at Heera Saraniya for his remarks.
According to NDFB (P) leader Gobinda Basumatary, Hira Saraniya has no capacity to grab power in BTC as he has fled from the ‘battlefield’.
“Hira Saraniya has no capacity to fight as he has deserted the battlefield. Even if he forms BTAD Sena, it will not be possible to impress upon the people of BTAD and garner their support to him,” Basumatary said.
The NDFB (P) leader also expressed his apprehension that Hira Saraniya might create trouble during the elections to be held in 2020. “If such thing happens Heera Saraniya will be responsible for that,” Basumatary said.
On the other hand, ABSU president Promod Boro also slammed the MP for his remarks.
“I don’t believe Hira Saraniya can lead BTAD Sena and grab power in BTC. He has deserted ULFA and has no locus standi,” Boro said.
Naba Kumar Saraniya alias Hira Saraniya is representing the Kokrajhar constituency in Assam from 2014 and won as an Independent Candidate in Lok Sabha elections 2014. He won by the highest margin ever recorded in polls in Assam and as an independent candidate in the history of Lok Sabha elections.
Saraniya continues his journey in parliament by winning 17th Lok Sabha election in Kokrajhar constituency for a second term.
Earlier Saraniya was the commander of the 709 battalion of ULFA. He was said to be one of the most dreaded militants in Assam. He hails from Dighalipaar village under Tamulpur police station in Baksa district of Assam.
The BTC is a territorial council in Assam which has jurisdictions in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts. It was established on February 10 in 2003. The BTC has 46 executive members. BTC is headed by Hagrama Mahilary as the Chief and Kampa Borgoyari as its deputy Chief.
The BTAD consists of four contiguous districts — Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang — carved out of seven existing districts — Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup, Darrang and Sonitpur.
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