The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday ordered a ‘composite floor test’ in Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) on or before December 26.
The High Court issued the order while hearing the writ petition filed by Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) president and former BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary and his party workers challenging the constitutional validity of the appointment of CEM and other members along with six nominated members in the council.
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Mohilary in his writ petition also contended that the rules laid down under Election Rules 2004 were violated by the formation of the new council.
Also read: Assam: Hotel politics at its peak as fear of ‘horse-trading’ grips parties in BTC
The single-judge bench of Justice Suman Shyam barred the new executive council, formed jointly by Bharatiya Janata Party( BJP), United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), and Gana Shakti Party (GSP), from taking any major decisions till the matter is resolved.
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Earlier, six members were nominated to the BTC.
The court reserving their nomination ruled that they cannot take part in the floor test.
Also read: Assam: BPF Chief Hagrama Mohilary confident of bouncing back to power in BTC
On the day of the composite floor test, which is to be convened by the Assam Governor, new BTC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pramod Boro of the UPPL and the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) president Hagrama Mohilary or someone projected by the party will have to prove majority during voting.
A counsel, who appeared for the BPF in the court said, “It is a very reasoned judgement by the court that a composite floor test has been ordered by the court where any party can participate to prove their majority.”
Meanwhile, in order to keep their members safe from any possible horse-trading, the BJP-UPPL-GSP, which have forged alliance and formed the government in BTC have been learned to have shifted their members to Shillong in Meghalaya and BPF to Phuentsholing in Bhutan.
The government of the 4th BTC council was formed on December 16 by the United People’s Party Liberal(UPPL) along with Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) and Gana Suraksha Party(GSP).
Though the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) had emerged as the single largest party by winning 17 seats out of 40 and was short of simple majority and the party was not able to prove its majority before the Governor.