STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The overall development of BTR (Bodoland Territorial Region) will be the prime agenda of the new BTC (Bodoland Territorial Council), stressed the designated Deputy CEM (Chief Executive Member) of BTC and UPPL (United People's Party Liberal) vice president Gobinda Basumatary.
Informing this to The Sentinel on Monday, Basumatary added, "The 17-year rule of HagramaMohillary as the CEM of the then BTAD (Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts (now renamed as BTR) failed to develop the region. The surface communication sector and even the basic education system besides others are still in a deplorable state."
Dwelling on the objectives of the new coalition Council — comprising the UPPL, the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the GSP (Gana Suraksha Party) which will take oath in Kokrajhar on December 15 — Basumatary said, "The masses have voted for change this time. The new Council will endeavour to live up to their expectations. We'll work to bring about the overall development in BTR. Since the population pattern of this vast region comprises communities from various religions, all of them should enjoy equal rights in all aspects.
GobindaBasumatary was also the former president of NDFB-P (National Democratic Front of Bodoland-Progressive). He joined the outfit in 1986. For the first 33 years of this organization, he was its general secretary and was also its president till the organization was disbanded in 2020. The NDFB-P was disbanded in February 2020 following the signing of the tripartite Bodo peace accord in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi the previous month.
During the recent elections to the BTC, the former rebel leader was elected from Bhairabkunda Constituency of Udalguri district by a margin of 1,082 votes.