AGP gears up for BTC polls amid prez post row

Guwahati: The AGP is gearing up for the April 8 Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) polls amid differences within the party for the president’s post. The party leadership said it will take the support of various social and non-political groups in the region.
The party has declared the names of candidates for five seats out of total 40 constituencies in BTAD.The nominees are Zakir Hussain from No. 7 Fakiragram (General), Ashwini Barman from No. 20 Mathanguri (Non-reserved), Bhairav Deka from No. 30 Goreswar (ST), Apurba Kumar Deka from No. 35 Mudiobori (Non-reserved) and Bhanu Chahu from No. 39 Pachnoi Serfang (General) constituencies.
Over 20.64 lakh people are eligible to vote in the four BTAD districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri. Voting will be held in 2,778 polling stations.
“We are holding discussions on how to go about in the election. As always, we will focus on the issues which will help in solving the problems of indigenous people. A number of non-political organizations are in touch with us for the election. In due course of time, we will decide with whom we will go ahead,” said AGP general secretary Ramendra Narayan Kalita.
This time, several non-Bodo organizations are contesting the polls to fulfill their various demands.
The last date for filing nomination is March 25 and repolling, if any, will be held on April 10. Counting of votes will be done on April 11.
Meanwhile, the party’s steering committee meeting has decided that the disciplinary action committee will take a call on former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta who had sent a letter staking claim to the party president’s post.
“The disciplinary action committee will decide if Mahanta’s act violated the party’s code of conduct,” said Kalita.
Since July last year, Mahanta was away from the president’s post after the party’s general council refused to accept his resignation. It was at this juncture that working president Atul Bora was given the responsibility. However, Mahanta staked claim to the post recently saying that he was away for six months on health grounds and hadn’t quit.
In a press statement, Mahanta said he is ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of the party. “I will not seek the president’s post. I’m ready to serve the party as a general member. The leadership should be handed over to youngsters to regain the lost glory of the regional party,” said Mahanta.