Assam Governor Approves Expansion of Bodoland Territorial Council Executive Council to 17 Members

In a significant administrative development for the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Governor of Assam, has approved increasing the strength of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Executive Council from 14 to 17 members.

The move comes as a key step to strengthen governance, improve administrative efficiency, and ensure wider political representation across the BTR.

Three New Members to Join the Executive Council

Following the expansion, three new Members of the Council Legislative Assembly (MCLAs) will be inducted:

Maheswar Basumatary – representing Goreswar (ST) constituency

Lakhi Das – representing Nagrijuli (Non-ST) constituency

Karmeswar Roy – government-nominated member from Bodoland People’s Front

The expansion follows a formal proposal submitted last month by BTC Chief Executive Member Hagrama Mohilary, aimed at enhancing the council’s functional capacity.

Oath-Taking Ceremony in Kokrajhar

The Governor’s Secretariat has confirmed that arrangements are underway for the swearing-in ceremony, likely scheduled for March 6–7, 2026, in Kokrajhar.

The oath will be administered by senior IAS officer Mukesh C. Sahu, who currently serves as Additional Chief Secretary to the Assam Government and Principal Secretary to the BTC.

Strengthening Governance and Representation in BTR

With the inclusion of the three new members, the BTC Executive Council will now function at full strength of 17 members.

The Bodoland Territorial Council plays a pivotal role in governance across BTR, overseeing key sectors such as:

• Education
• Rural development
• Health and welfare programs
• Infrastructure and roads
• Cultural preservation

Observers note that this expansion could provide greater institutional depth, helping the council address development gaps and strengthen leadership across the four districts: Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, and Udalguri.