Assam State EC announces date for BTC Polls: Elections on Apr 4; counting begins on Apr 8

GUWAHATI: The Assam State Election Commission has announced the dates of the upcoming Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections. According to an official statement, the elections will be held on April 4, and counting will begin on April 8. The poll hours are fixed from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The last date for filing nominations is March 18 while the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is 21 March. The publication of the list of contesting candidates is on 21 March.

The time of filing of the nominations for the election is from 11am to 3 pm on March 18 and the scrutiny will be done on March 19, the State Election Commission has mentioned. The nomination papers will be received on all working days including the second Saturday from 11am to 3pm.

If necessary, re-polling will be held on April 6. The General Council of Bodoland Territorial Council will expire on 27th April 2020 as per notification. The Deputy Commissioner and Sub Divisional Officers of Bodoland Territorial Area Districts will issue of the election in the required format, according to a notification from Assam State Election Commission.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha Parliamentary polls, the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), People Joint Action Committee for Borland Movement (PJACMB) and NDFB-P backed the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) party.

The BTC elections this time will see a triangular contest between the UPPL, the Bodo People’s Front, and the Gana Suraksha Manch formed by Naba Sarania.

The list of the fifteen candidates announced by Hagrama Mohilary on February this year are Khampa Borgoyary, Hagrama Mahilary, Daneswar Goyary, Rajib Kr Brahma, Mithunjay Narzary, Ansumwi Khungur, Jagdish Sarkar, Nershwn Boro, Tridip Daimary, Siyam Sundi, Bonzar Daimary, Bijitgwra Narzary, Maheswar Basumatary, Moon Moon Brahma and Lwmsrao Daimary.

In January this year, the Government had signed an accord with the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) — providing political and economic bonanza. The move is expected to boost peace in the Northeast.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, State Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and BTC (Bodoland Territorial Council) Chief Hagrama Mohillary were present as the tripartite agreement (Memorandum of Settlement) was signed by Joint Secretary (NE), MHA, Satyendra Garg, and Kumar Sanjay Krishna, Chief Secretary, Government of Assam, with the representatives of NDFB factions. The All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), which has been spearheading a movement for a Bodoland State, was also present during the accord-signing meet.

The pact provides political and economic bonanza to the tribals, sans the outfit’s key demand of a separate Bodoland state or union territory.

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