COVID-19 cannot be a valid reason for delaying BTC election: Kampa Borgoyari

Former deputy chief of BTC and senior leader of the Bodoland People's Front (BPF), Kampa Borgoyari has said that the
COVID-19 cannot be a valid reason for delaying BTC election: Kampa Borgoyari

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: Former deputy chief of BTC and senior leader of the Bodoland People's Front (BPF), Kampa Borgoyari has said that the COVID-19 pandemic could not be a valid reason to bring the BTC election to a standstill.

Talking to mediapersons, Borgoyari said that the 4th BTC election was due in April this year but it could not be held owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently, the council administration led by Hagrama Mohilary was taken over by the Governor of Assam, Prof. Jagadish Mukhi since April 27. Borgoyari said that one of the ministers of Assam had recently said that coronavirus would get transmitted in districts like Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Dhubri, Nalbari and Mangaldai if the BTC election was held within October and the minister had also sent a request letter to the State Election Commission (SEC) for delaying the BTC election.

Borgoyari said that the COVID-19 pandemic was not just a problem of Assam but it was a global problem. "The presidential election in the US will be held in November and massive campaign is going on despite the US being one of the worst affected countries by the pandemic. The panchayat election in Rajasthan will be held on September 28 and similarly, the assembly election in Bihar is going to be held on time amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. So there is no reason why the BTC election cannot be held in October," he said, adding that the fear of transmission of the pandemic from BTC to neighbouring districts of Assam by a minister was unfortunate and there was no acceptable logic.

"If the Governor's Rule is extended for another six months, it will be very unfortunate for the people of BTC region as all the development activities have been halted due to lack of elected council in the last six months," he said. Borgoyari appealed to the SEC to clarify on holding the council election in BTC.

The former deputy chief of BTC said that several important works like protection of bundhs, dykes and villages ravaged by recent floods, constructions of roads, bridges and other infrastructure had been stopped due to Model Code of Conduct of BTC election. Hence the BTC election should be held within October.

The president of the BPF and former BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary on Wednesday said that the State Government should stop delaying the BTC election due to the COVID-19 pandemic and should make its stand clear. He demanded that the BTC election should be held within October for the greater interest of development of BTC areas.

The Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS), a literary body of the Bodos, All Bodo Women's Welfare Federation (ABWWF) and other organizations also met the Chief Minister on Wednesday and demanded that the council election should be held within October. The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) leaders have also echoed the same and demanded that the election should be held as early as possible by maintaining COVID-19 protocol. Earlier, former Rajya Sabha MP UG Brahma also demanded that the Government of Assam should clarify its stand on holding the BTC election.

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