BTC Election: BJP flags vandalized in Udalguri ahead of polls

BHERGAON: With the electioneering in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) reaching fever pitch ahead of the polls, things took a turn for the worse in Bhergaon in Udalguri district on Thursday when BJP flags were vandalized, allegedly by supporters of other political parties.

In response to this, BJP workers -- who had strung up the flags in several places across Bhergaon -- took to the streets in protest, raising slogans hailing Assam's Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and condemning the miscreants for "disrespecting" the BJP, which is slowly but surely becoming a force to be reckoned with in the BTC region.

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"We had strung up flags of the BJP party. However, miscreants in the dead of the night vandalized the flags. We are now congregating here to demand answers -- why has the flag been vandalized?", said a BJP worker.

Another worker lamented that this current state of affairs is "rather unfortunate". "This proves that they have already accepted defeat because a BJP victory is a foregone conclusion in Bhergaon. This reeks of controversy," he said.

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It needs mention here that the Election Commission of Assam on Tuesday declared the dates of the upcoming polls in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) which were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alok Kumar, the State Election Commissioner of Assam, today announced that the BTC election shall be held in two phases — on December 7 and 10.

In the first phase of polls, residents of Udalguri and Baksa districts will head to the polling booths. The casting of votes shall take place between 7:30 am in the morning till 4:30 pm in the afternoon. Re-polling, if any, shall take place on December 12, stated the Election Commissioner.

Residents of Kokrajhar and Chirang districts shall exercise their franchise on December 12, 2020, from 7:30 am in the morning till 4:30 pm in the afternoon.

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