In an important administrative decision for the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), the Governor of Assam, Lakshman Prasad Acharya, has approved an increase in the number of members in the Executive Council of the Bodoland Territorial Council. With this approval, the strength of the council’s executive body will rise from 14 members to 17.The decision will allow the inclusion of three more Members of the Council Legislative Assembly (MCLAs) in the Executive Council. Officials said the move is expected to widen the leadership structure of the council and help in the smooth functioning of its administrative responsibilities.The three leaders who are set to join the Executive Council are Maheswar Basumatary from the Goreswar (ST) constituency, Lakhi Das from the Nagrijuli (Non-ST) constituency, and Karmeswar Roy, a government-nominated member associated with the Bodoland People’s Front. All three are expected to take oath as Executive Members in the coming days.
The expansion comes after a formal proposal was submitted last month by the Chief Executive Member of the BTC, Hagrama Mohilary. The proposal requested an increase in the number of executive members in order to strengthen the functioning capacity of the council and ensure that different areas and groups receive proper representation in the decision-making process.Following the Governor’s approval, preparations are now being made for the swearing-in ceremony. According to an official communication from the Governor’s Secretariat, the oath-taking programme is likely to be held in Kokrajhar on March 6 or March 7.Senior IAS officer Mukesh C. Sahu will administer the oath to the new executive members. Sahu currently serves as Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam and also holds the charge of Principal Secretary to the BTC.
Once the three new members are sworn in, the Executive Council of the BTC will function with its full strength of 17 members. Officials believe that the expanded council will help improve administrative coordination and allow the council to manage its departments more effectively.