GUWAHATI, March 21 � The All Bodo Students� Union (ABSU) has decided to play an active role in the polls to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) on April 8, and has requested the State Election Commission to take all possible steps to ensure free and fair polls.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, ABSU president Pramod Boro said that the student body would extend active support to the candidates of the newly formed People�s Coordination for Democratic Rights (PCDR), an umbrella organisation of 18 different political parties and entities. The umbrella body was formed recently to put up a strong challenge to the Bodoland People�s Front (BPF) in the polls.
Boro admitted that the ABSU is a non-political student body, but it decided to extend active support to the candidates of the PCDR in the interest of restoring democracy in the BTC and for the overall development of the area. He said the main motto of the ABSU in the polls would be to �bring a political change for good governance�.
The ABSU president pointed out that the student body played a major role in the creation of the BTC under provisions of the amended Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India and that is why, it now has a role to play in ensuring that the rights of all sections of people living in the area are protected. He alleged that the people are frustrated with the present rulers of the BTC and there was a need for a positive change.
Boro alleged that threats, intimidation, etc., have already started in the BTC and the State Election Commission must take all necessary steps to ensure free and fair polls.
Commenting on the main issues for the ABSU in the polls, Boro said the law-and-order situation is the key issue and the government must take effective steps to seize all the illegal weapons. For years, anti-social elements are carrying out illegal activities with the help of illegal weapons and the government has so far not been able to take a strong stand on the issue.
Creating unity among all sections of people of the area is another key issue and the aspirations of all sections of people must be fulfilled, while the rights of the ethnic groups need to be protected.
