GUWAHATI, March 17 - The Congress party on Tuesday accused the Assam State Election Commission of allegedly acting unilaterally and not consulting political parties before announcing the BTC elections.
�Never in India has ever any election been conducted without taking into confidence the registered political parties. The registered political parties are always consulted and their suggestions sought before announcing any election. It is unfortunate that this State government and the officials involved in the election process have neglected the BTC polls and only after declaration of the elections did they call a meeting with political parties. When we went for the meeting we registered our protest at the conduct of the State Election Commission and we walked out of the meeting,� Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) general secretary and former State minister Durga Das Boro said in a press conference here on Tuesday.
Coronavirus: The Congress party said that if the deadly coronavirus spreads in the Bodoland region during the BTC elections then the State government will be responsible for it.
�Coronavirus is spreading across the world and even here orders have been issued against holding large public assembly. The BTC polls will be held in violation of all such procedures. The government of Sarbananda Sonowal and Himanta Biswa Sarma will have to take responsibility for the safety of the 32 persons of Bodoland. Elections are being held as we will cooperate with the process but the government will be responsible if anything untoward happen,� said Boro.
Cong-AIUDF alliance: The principal opposition party said that any decision regarding alliance with the AIUDF for the 2021 Assembly elections will be taken by the Congress high command.
�The high command will take a decision whether we will have an alliance with the AIUDF in 2021,� said chief whip of the State Congress Legislature Party Wazed Ali Choudhury, who was also present in the press conference.
It is noteworthy that former chief minister Tarun Gogoi had last week said that Congress and AIUDF will fight the next Assembly elections together.
However, Harish Rawat, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge for Assam, said on Monday that there is as yet no proposal for having an alliance with the AIUDF.