From Preetam Brahma Choudhury
Kokrajhar, Dec 10: Polling for the last and second phase of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) election in 19 constituencies under Kokrajhar and Chirang district concluded peacefully barring minor scuffles in some polling stations.
Polling in 506 Polling stations started at 7.30 am in the morning. Voters- men-women, both young and old were seen coming out and standing in line to exercise their democratic right since morning.78.8 polling percentage was recorded till the filing of this report.
Senior BPF leader and cabinet minister Pramila Rani Brahma, UPPL Baukhungri candidate Pratibha Brahma cast their votes at Kokrajhar Vidyapith school, former BTC chief and BPF president Hagrama Mohilary along with his family cast his vote at Debargaon constituency, former Rajya Sabha MP and UPPL founder president Urkhao Gwra Brahma cast his vote at Dotma constituency. They expressed confidence in their party candidates winning the election with a majority vote.
Bigwigs, whose fate was sealed in the ballot boxes after the second phase of voting today, include former BTC chief and BPF president Hagrama Mohilary, former BTC deputy chief Kampha Borgoyary, NDFB-S President B. Saoraigwra alias Amar Basumatary, NDFB-S general secretary B R Ferenga alias Ranjit Basumatary, former BTC speaker Paniram Brahma (BPF), former BTC members –Rwngwra Narzary, Jiron Basumatary, Maoti Brahma Hazowary, UPPL vice president Pratibah Brahma.
The first phase bigwigs candidates includes former ABSU president and UPPL president Pramod Boro, NDFB-P general secretary Gobinda Basumatary, former BTC executive member Jagadish Sarkar, Shyam Sundhi among others.
The first phase of polling held on 7 December recorded 77.1 polling percentage.
Altogether 241 candidates are in the poll fray across 40 constituencies where a total of 23, 82,036 voters, including 11, 79,020 women and 8(eight) ‘Third Gender’, exercise their franchise in the two phases of the polls.
Counting will be held on December 12.
The last BTC election in 2015 and 2010 had seen 75 and 77 per cent polling respectively.
Blank firing by Police
Police had to resort to blank firing after supporters of the BPF and UPPL reportedly got into a scuffle at a polling station in Duttapur under Chirang Duwar constituency. Police then had to resort to blank firing to control the situation.
Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) IGP Anurag Agrawal said the situation took place due to confusion after a old lady with vision problems was guided and helped by the Presiding Officer to cast her vote. Some people assumed that the polling official was helping and asking to vote for a particular party, he said.
Police had to restore blank firing to bring the situation under control and disperse the mob after some public turned unruly and the Presiding Officer was physically assaulted.
