Public Holiday declared on April 8 in BTAD for BTC polls

GUWAHATI: Assam government today declared a public holiday on April 8 in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri for polling to the Bodoland Territorial Council, 2015.

The state government also declared a public holiday in the said areas on April 8 under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, an official release said here.

This declaration is made in respect of all central government offices, public sector undertakings, corporations, boards, banks and educational institutions falling under BTAD areas.

There are 46 territorial council constituencies in the BTC but elections will be held for 40 seats with the Assam Governor nominating six members to the council from the unrepresented communities.

The BTC, a territorial council comprising four districts of Assam-Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri, came into existence in 2003 as part of signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the central government, the state government and the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) members.

Elections were held to the council for the first time in 2003 and the Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) led by Hagrama Mohilary won the majority and the party returned to power again in 2010.

The date of counting has been fixed on April 11.