After the five-year term of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) came to an end on April 27, Assam governor Jagdish Mukhi has taken over. Elections for 40 seats were put on hold in wake of the Coronavirus outbreak and subsequent lockdown.
The BTC that was established in 2003, is responsible for administration of the autonomous region called Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) spread over the districts of Baksa, Chirang, Kokrajhar and Udalguri. The BTAD region falls under the purview of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and the governor assumed control as per provisions of section 2 of para 16 that deals with dissolution of regional councils. This provision states:
“If at any time the Governor is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the administration of an autonomous district or region cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Schedule, he may, by public notification, assume to himself all or any of the functions or powers vested in or exercisable by the District Council or, as the case may be, the Regional Council and declare that such functions or powers shall be exercisable by such person or authority as he may specify in this behalf, for a period not exceeding six months: Provided that the Governor may by a further order or orders extend the operation of the initial order by a period not exceeding six months on each occasion.”
The governor has appointed IAS officer Rajesh Prasad who is the principal secretary to the government of Assam as the administrator of the BTC areas. He is to exercise all the functions and powers exercised by the council and its Executive Committee, Chief Executive Member, Deputy Executive Member, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Executive Members. Additionally, IAS officer Siddhartha Singh was appointed as the new Principal Secretary of the BTC.
Elections had previously been scheduled to take place on April 4, with repolls (if required) scheduled for April 6 and counting was to take place on April 8, 2020. The
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