'From Separate State Demand To Integration': Assam Assembly Holds Session At Bodoland Territorial Council Secretariat

For the first time in its history, the Assam Legislative Assembly convened a session outside its capital, Guwahati, signaling a significant step towards the integration of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) with the rest of the state, New Indian Express reported.

The session took place in Kokrajhar, the administrative headquarters of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), approximately 210 km from Guwahati. The inaugural session of the Budget meeting was conducted at the BTC Secretariat, with Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya delivering the customary speech.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma presented the report of Justice (Retd) Biplab Sarma on irregularities in the 2013 and 2014 Combined Competitive Examinations before the Assembly. The session will continue in Guwahati from Tuesday (18 February) onward.

Minister Pijush Hazarika emphasised the transformation of the BTR from a region marked by demands for a separate state to one increasingly integrated with Assam’s governance structure. He noted that the local population welcomed the assembly session, highlighting a shift from past unrest to stability and development.

“A decade and a half ago, there were demands for a separate state in BTR. Today, the scenario has changed, and the people of the region have embraced this Assembly session as part of Assam’s governance,” Hazarika said.

The move aligns with the central government’s broader efforts to support the development of the BTR. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have played key roles in facilitating peace in the region.

Two days prior, Modi reiterated that the Centre and Assam governments have been working towards fulfilling the aspirations of the Bodo community and ensuring sustained development in the region.

“I fondly recall my visit to Kokrajhar, where I experienced the rich and vibrant Bodo culture,” Modi had stated, reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening the region’s ties with Assam.

The decision to hold the session in Kokrajhar underscores Assam’s effort to integrate Bodoland into the mainstream administrative framework, reinforcing stability and governance in the region.