Assam Cabinet Grants Ministerial Status to BTC Deputy Chief Amid Protests

Key Decision by Assam Cabinet

Guwahati, Oct 29: In response to increasing demands for the full execution of the 2020 Bodoland Peace Accord, the Assam Cabinet has approved a significant provision by bestowing Cabinet Minister-equivalent status to the Deputy Chief Executive Member (Dy CEM) of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).

During a press briefing following the meeting at Lok Sewa Bhawan, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that both BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary and Deputy Chief Rihon Daimari will now hold a status equivalent to that of Assam Cabinet Ministers. Other Executive Members will be recognized as Ministers of State within the BTC region.

“As per the Bodoland Accord, the Deputy Chief of BTC has been granted Cabinet Minister status,” Sarma stated.

This decision follows a meeting held the previous day with Executive Members, senior officials, and deputy commissioners from the five BTC districts at Lok Sewa Bhawan.

The timing of this Cabinet decision is noteworthy, as earlier that day, the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) conducted large-scale protest rallies across all districts of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) and in Biswanath, advocating for the complete implementation of the 2020 Accord.

These demonstrations, among the largest since the Accord was signed five years ago, attracted thousands of participants.

At a rally in Kokrajhar, ABSU president Dipen Boro announced a new agitation plan, which includes a seminar in New Delhi on November 20, a dharna at Jantar Mantar the following day, and a major rally in Kokrajhar in December.

In this context, political analysts view Wednesday’s Cabinet decision as a conciliatory gesture towards the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), which has recently regained control of the BTC, ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Additionally, speculation regarding the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) potentially leaving the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has grown following their defeat in the BTC elections. On Wednesday, UPPL councillor from Manas Serfang, Dhananjay Basumatary, indicated that a decision would be made at the party’s upcoming conference in November.

“A meeting with UPPL members was held yesterday at Gabbru Khunda Manas Resort. Some members proposed that the party should exit the NDA soon, but the final decision will be made in November,” Basumatary stated.