Gauhati High Court rejects BPF plea to end Governor's rule in BTAD

Guwahati: Dismissing the Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF) against the Governor's rule in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD), the Gauhati High Court on Monday said that rule will continue for an additional 6 months.

Earlier in the year, after the Governor took charge of the area, executive member of the BPF, Jagadish Sarkar, had filed the plea against the governor's rule in the area at the Gauhati High Court. The Governor took charge of the BTAD area as elections could not be held on time due to the pandemic situation.

The Governor's rule was imposed in the BTAD in April after the term of 40-member BTC expired without an election being held due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The governor's rule will continue in BTAD till a new council is formed. BTC polls were scheduled to be held on April 4 but were postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Principal Secretary to Assam Government has been appointed as the administrator of the BTC.

The BTAD falls under the Sixth Schedule of Constitution and the Governor is the constitutional head. However, there has been a hue-and-cry among the BPF party's ranks ever since the Governor took control of the region. The Governor's subsequent visits to the Council have also been vehemently opposed by the BPF on the grounds that the Governor, who is aged above 60 and falls into the "vulnerable category" of citizens, must not travel to the BTAD in view of the ongoing pandemic situation.

Meanwhile, the imposition of the Governor's Rule has been hailed by the opposition party leaders such as the United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) President Promod Boro and Kokrajhar Lok Sabha MP Naba Sarania -- who both have great political ambitions in the region's upcoming polls. At the same time, the BJP, breaking away from its traditional partnership with the BPF over the polls, is also eyeing a decisive victory.

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