Assam social welfare minister and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) leader Pramila Rani Brahma has said that the decision to reschedule the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) election rests with governor Jagdish Mukhi as he is the administrative head of the Sixth Schedule areas.

The BTC election, scheduled for April 4, was postponed indefinitely owing to the Covid-19 outbreak.

The tenure of the present council ends on April 27.

Brahma said the people and the political parties were waiting anxiously for the decision of the governor on the BTC election. She imposed faith that it would be done under the framework of the Constitution.

Under Article 356 of the Constitution, if elections are postponed for unavoidable reasons like war, epidemic or natural disasters, the governor usually issues a proclamation, after obtaining the consent of the President, wherein the executive authority is exercised through the governor, who has the authority to appoint other administrators to assist him. The administrators are usually non-partisan retired civil servants.

Brahma, who is in-charge of Kokrajhar district for Covid-19 response, attended a review meeting at Commerce College in Kokrajhar on Friday.

Deputy commissioner Partha Pratim Majumdar, superintendent of police Rakesh Roushan and senior officials of line departments attended the meeting and briefed her about the activities in the district during the lockdown.

Brahma also emphasised on the need to distribute food to the needy during the lockdown.