Tribal Bodies Oppose Non-ST Nominations in BTC Reserved Seats

Several tribal organisations, including AATSU and BJSM, have opposed the nomination of non-Scheduled Tribe candidates in ST-reserved constituencies for the upcoming Bodoland Territorial Council elections.

In a memorandum to the Kokrajhar DC, they termed such nominations an attempt to bypass constitutional safeguards and cited Gauhati High Court rulings rejecting non-ST claims to ST status. The groups demanded strict scrutiny of nomination papers, transparency in the rejection process, and legal action against fraudulent claims.

They warned that allowing non-ST candidates in reserved seats would undermine the political rights of Bodo and other tribal communities, urging the Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls.