Bodoland Territorial Council polls: Fate of candidates hangs in balance

A CORRESPONDENT

TANGLA: Amidst the dark clouds of uncertainty looming large over the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) polls, earlier slated for April 4 and indefinitely postponed in view of the coronavirus pandemic, the fate of the candidates who filed nominations across the 40 BTC constituencies also hangs in balance as elections are unlikely to be held in the coming days keeping in view the spike in COVID-19 positive cases and mortality rate.

As per sources, the BTC polls are likely to be delayed for at least three to four months as the authorities responsible for holding polls had written a letter to the health department seeking review of the scenario, following which there was spike in number of COVID-19 positive cases and the matter got buried.

The pandemic has also put a dent on the political parties' plans to host huge poll campaigns and rallies in the run-up to the polls and it is only the virtual world of social media which is abuzz with parties and candidates trying to garner public support.

Apart from the Bodoland People's Front (BPF), the Promod Boro-led United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) will be fielding candidates in all the 40 seats, Congress-AIUDF have jointly fielded 20 candidates while Naba Kumar Sarania-led Gana Surakha Party (GSP) is backing a number of independent candidates. Pertinently, in the 46-member BTC council, polls are held for 40 seats while the Governor nominates six members from non-represented community.

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