The campaigning for Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections came to an end on Monday in four Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD), even as one person was killed in a pre-poll violence in Kokrajhar district late Sunday night. A total of 40 constituencies, which are spread to four districts-Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang and Udalguri-are going to polls on April 8. Violence was reported from Kokrajhar district on Sunday night when a group of miscreants attacked one Dilip Boro, member of the Bodoland Peoples’ Front (BPF) and lynched him to death. Additional Superintendent of Police, Kokrajhar district, SS Panesar said the miscreants also attacked the BPF office and ransacked it. Boro’s family alleged that the miscreants were members of People’s Confederation of Democratic Rights (PCDR), a newly-floated conglomeration of several organisations, which have also fielded candidates in all the 40 constituencies.
“We received information that some miscreants had attacked the BPF office. When we reached, we found some people ransacking the BPF office. We have arrested 22 people for the attack. We produced them before the court and they have been remanded in judicial custody,” said Panesar. A total of 20,64,099 electorates, including 10,58,889 men, will exercise their democratic right in 2,778 polling stations across the BTADs said the election department official while adding that a total of 333 candidates are in the fray.
While the ruling BPF has fielded 40 candidates, the BJP and the Congress have also put up candidates in all the 40 constituencies. The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has fielded eight candidates. Besides, there are six candidates fielded by Asom Gana Parishad, seven candidates by CPI (M), one candidate by the CPI and 151 Independent candidates are contesting the polls. The counting of votes will be on April 11.