Guwahati (Assam): In a groundbreaking move, the Assam Legislative Assembly convened outside Guwahati for the first time in history. The first day of the Budget session is being held at the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Assembly in Kokrajhar on Monday.
Buses carrying Assam ministers and MLAs departed for Kokrajhar, where the session is taking place, marking a significant milestone in Assam’s legislative history.
Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika highlighted the importance of this event, saying, “For the first time, under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, we are going to hold the assembly session in Kokrajhar. 15 years ago, there was a situation that the people of Kokrajhar wanted a separate state, but now they don’t want it and they are welcoming us… This is a great initiative. It will be continued.”
Deputy Speaker of the Assam Assembly, Numal Momin, emphasized the positive impact of this move on peace in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). He stated, “The message of all MLAs is that after the BJP government came, peace prevails in BTR, which was a disturbed area earlier. We are having this budget session and the Governor’s speech in Kokrajhar today. It will carry a very good message to the people of Assam and PM Modi’s dream of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas’.”
BJP MLA Mrinal Saikia called it a “great and historical day for Assam,” adding that discussions would focus on economic and socio-economic development in the six scheduled areas. “It is very significant… It will give a great message to the entire people of Assam,” he said.
AIUDF MLA Karim Uddin Barbhuiya praised the initiative, noting its significance for the region. “It is a good initiative. This is happening for the first time in India, where we are going out of the station and going to the BTC area. Everyone will praise this step as BTC was an underdeveloped area. Earlier there was insecurity in this area. Today it is in the mainstream. It will send a good message that the government is thinking about the development of the Bodo people.”
Congress MLA Abdur Rashid Mandal described the session as “historic,” believing it would send a strong message to the people of the Sixth Schedule areas. “Today’s main discussion will be on the socio-economic and all-round development of the Sixth Schedule area,” he added.
AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam echoed these sentiments, stating that the session demonstrated the government’s efforts in restoring peace in BTC. “It is happening for the first time in the Assam Assembly, hosting the session outside the capital. It is one of the proofs shown by the government that earlier, the BTC area was a completely unraised area since 1985, but presently, peaceful restoration is going on there. Their demand is a separate state, but now it will suit them that they are part of the mainstream.”
The historic move underscores Assam’s commitment to inclusive governance and regional development, sending a strong message of unity and progress across the state.