GUWAHATI, April 1 � The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today demanded that the State Election Commission should take all possible measures to ensure free and fair polls to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) scheduled for April 9. The party also demanded the intervention of the State Governor to prevent violence during the polls.
Talking to media persons, AGP general secretary Sarbananda Sonowal expressed apprehension that the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) and the Congress might try to win the polls by unfair means including rigging and intimidation of voters. He said that if free and fair elections are ensured, the BPF and Congress would definitely lose the polls.
Sonowal said that at least a month back, four parties -AGP, BJP, Bodoland People's Progressive Front (BPPF) and AUDF, submitted a memorandum to the Governor, JB Patnaik to take personal initiative to ensure free and fair polls to the BTC. At that time, the Governor assured that he would visit the BTC area to hold meetings with police and security forces to ensure free and fair polls and he should keep his promise, Sonowal added.
The AGP general secretary demanded that neutral observers should be appointed in all the polling stations of the BTC polls to prevent rigging and adequate number of Army, CRPF and police personnel should be deployed in the area so that all sections of people can exercise their franchise with an open mind. He also said that the State Election Commission should take serious note of the violation of the model code of conduct by members of the ruling BPF in the BTC area.
The AGP is contesting the BTC polls in an electoral alliance with the BPPF and UPDF. The regional party is contesting in nine of the 40 seats.
Meanwhile, the regional party today released its election manifesto for the BTC polls. The thrust of the election manifesto is to provide equal opportunities and justice to all sections of people living in the BTC area and all round development of the area to make it one of the most developed areas of the country.
Meanwhile, the Congress also released its election manifesto in a function in Kokrajhar yesterday. The manifesto was released by senior party leader Phanindra Chandra Brahma in presence of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhubaneswar Kalita. Speaking on the occasion, Kalita said that the BPF and Congress would regain power in BTC and alliance would continue in the 2011 elections.
GUWAHATI, April 1 � The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today demanded that the State Election Commission should take all possible measures to ensure free and fair polls to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) scheduled for April 9. The party also demanded the intervention of the State Governor to prevent violence during the polls.
Talking to media persons, AGP general secretary Sarbananda Sonowal expressed apprehension that the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) and the Congress might try to win the polls by unfair means including rigging and intimidation of voters. He said that if free and fair elections are ensured, the BPF and Congress would definitely lose the polls.
Sonowal said that at least a month back, four parties -AGP, BJP, Bodoland People's Progressive Front (BPPF) and AUDF, submitted a memorandum to the Governor, JB Patnaik to take personal initiative to ensure free and fair polls to the BTC. At that time, the Governor assured that he would visit the BTC area to hold meetings with police and security forces to ensure free and fair polls and he should keep his promise, Sonowal added.
The AGP general secretary demanded that neutral observers should be appointed in all the polling stations of the BTC polls to prevent rigging and adequate number of Army, CRPF and police personnel should be deployed in the area so that all sections of people can exercise their franchise with an open mind. He also said that the State Election Commission should take serious note of the violation of the model code of conduct by members of the ruling BPF in the BTC area.
The AGP is contesting the BTC polls in an electoral alliance with the BPPF and UPDF. The regional party is contesting in nine of the 40 seats.
Meanwhile, the regional party today released its election manifesto for the BTC polls. The thrust of the election manifesto is to provide equal opportunities and justice to all sections of people living in the BTC area and all round development of the area to make it one of the most developed areas of the country.
Meanwhile, the Congress also released its election manifesto in a function in Kokrajhar yesterday. The manifesto was released by senior party leader Phanindra Chandra Brahma in presence of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhubaneswar Kalita. Speaking on the occasion, Kalita said that the BPF and Congress would regain power in BTC and alliance would continue in the 2011 elections.
