APCC President Ripun Bora urges Assam Governor to take charge of BTC from April 26

GUWAHATI: The APCC (Assam Pradesh Congress Committee) on Friday, appealed the Governor to take over the administration of the BTC (Bodoland Territorial Council) on expiry of its term on April 26.

In a letter to the Governor, APCC president Ripun Bora stated that due to the nationwide lockdown the Assam State Election Commission had to postpone the BTC elections. And considering the Country wide trend of coronavirus there is no possibility of holding the election before April 26. Bora added, “I urge upon you to take over the administration of BTC on April 26 on expiry of its 5-years term. In this connection the Assam Government may advise may advice you to extend the term of the council for another six months under the proviso to Para 2 (6) A of Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. But the legal expert opines that the power to extend the term of Council can be used at a stage before declaration of election. Once election is declared this power cannot be exercised.”

Further he stated, “With declaration of election the present council automatically become a “care taker council” and therefore exercising the power provided by Proviso to Para 2 (6) A of the sixth schedule the term of the council cannot be extended. Governor could have exercised this power had there been no election notification.”

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