Coalition government of Pramod Boro wins BTC floor test

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: The coalition government of Pramod Boro-led United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) in BTC won the composite floor test on Thursday even as former BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary later threatened to move the Court alleging 'undemocratic' proceeding during the floor test.

The floor test was directed by the Gauhati High Court. The alliance defeated the Hagrama Mohilary-led BPF government after 15 years.

Altogether 22 elected Members of Council Legislative Assembly (MCLA) of the alliance — excluding the pro-tem Speaker who is from the UPPL — and from Pramod Boro's twin seats — raised their hands in the voice vote. As a result, only 16 MCLAs were left with the BPF.

Pro-tem Speaker of BTC, Katiram Boro first administered the oaths of office and secrecy to BTC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pramod Boro, followed by Deputy CEM Gobinda Chandra Basumatary.

As EM Ranjit Basumatary was about to take oath, BPF MCLA Derhasat Basumatary stood up and raised strong objection alleging that the Speaker had violated the rules. Claiming that the Speaker cannot administer oaths to the designated chief, deputy chief and EMs first, he demanded that oaths be administered to all members as MCLAs. Former chief of BTC, Hagrama Mohilary also stood up and raised objection against the pro-tem Speaker. All the MCLAs of BPF created a hue and cry and moved towards the Speaker's podium.

As the uproar of BPF MCLAs went beyond control, the Speaker adjourned the House for 10 minutes as some unruly BPF members allegedly started smashing the microphone of the Speaker and disrupted the oath-taking repeatedly. They showed placards and shouted slogans.

Meanwhile, new BTC chief Pramod Boro requested the Speaker to continue the proceeding. The UPPL, BJP and GSP members also started shouting slogans. After resumption of proceeding, the Speaker opted to administer the oath in alphabetical order; and finally administered the oath to all MCLAs.

The House witnessed heated scenes again when the Speaker was selected from the coalition parties. The BPF wanted voting also for the Speaker's post.

Heated exchanges were witnessed for the third time when the Speaker asked those MCLAs who had trust in the Pramod Boro-led coalition government to raise their hands. The BPF representatives created a ruckus near the Speaker's podium and started smashing the microphone. The disruption lasted till the Speaker was adjourned the House sine die. But most of them did not hear the Speaker's announcement of sine die as the microphone was earlier brought down by BPF MCLA from Porbhatjhora, Moon Moon Brahma.

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