BTC: Gauhati High Court orders composite floor test to prove majority by 26 Dec

Dec. 22: Trouble looms large over the recently formed Promod Boro-led Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday asked the warring parties for a composite floor test by 26 December, 2020 to prove their majority in the council. Composite floor test is done in cases when atleast two persons claims to form the government and the majority is not clear. In such a case, the majority is counted based on those present and voting. 

It needs mention here that BPF had emerged as the single largest party with 17 seats for the 40 member Council but BJP took the lead to form the Council with support from UPPL and GSP. UPPL had won 12 seats and GSP won one seat. BJP had won nine seats in the BTC polls held earlier this month.

Things have become more tough for the new CEM of BTC, Promod Boro as the High Court order has put a stay on the appointment of the nominated members. These nominated members will not be able to vote during the floor test and cannot participate in the election of the Chief Executive Member. The new council was formed by the BJP-UPPL-GSP combine. They have 22 members. The lone elected member from the Congress and another from the BPF defected to the BJP later. Absence of anti-defection law in sixth schedule areas have now added to the crisis of government formation in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).

Earlier, while hearing the writ petition filed by Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) president, Hagrama Mohilary and his party workers challenging the constitutional validity of the appointment of the chief executive member and other members, a single bench of Justice Suman Shyam of Gauhati High Court directed the BTC to maintain ‘status quo’ and not start governance in the council. It is on Tuesday, December 15 the Council was formed and the Court order for status quo came on December 18.