The picture of Basumatary that went viral during the election session drew a lot of criticism.
Digital Desk: A photograph of Benjamin Basumatary, a prominent member of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR)'s United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), sleeping on a pile of Rs 500 currency notes, has gone viral and and created a political storm.
Benjamin Basumatary is being posted as the VCDC Chairman in Bhairaguri, Udalguri district.
Now, the photo has garnered widespread condemnation amidst the election session. The UPPL, formed as a response to Hagrama Mohilary's Bodoland People's Front (BPF) due to corruption, is now being accused of corruption itself.
Meanwhile, Pramod Boro, the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of BTC and the chief of UPPL, Basumatary was removed from his position as Chairman of the Bhairaguri VCDC in Udalguri in February of this year and had his party membership revoked one month earlier in January.
Basumatary is no longer associated with the party, he said.
Taking to ‘X’, Pramod Boro wrote, “a photo of Benjamin Basumatry is circulating widely on social media. We want to clarify that Mr. Basumatry is no longer associated with UPPL as he was suspended from the party on 10th January, 2024, and disciplinary action was taken against him after receiving a letter from the Harisingha Block Committee, UPPL on 5th January, 2024. Additionally, the BTC Government suspended and removed him from the post of VCDC Chairman on 10th February, 2024.”
“I urge all media outlets and social media users to refrain from linking Mr. Basumatry with UPPL. His actions are solely his own responsibility, and the party is not accountable for any of his personal acts,” he added.
A copy of a notice from the UPPL party dated January 5, 2024, in which it is mentioned that Basumatary has been removed as the primary member of the party, was also attached by the CEM.
In another notice dated February 10, 2024, the Panchayat & Rural Development Department, Kokrajhar, said that Basumatary had been removed from his post ffor being "involved in immoral and unethical activities."
“…such act is unbecoming of a public representative and it transmits negative messages to the common mass,” it read.
“In view of the above, Sri Benjamin Basumatary, Chairman of Bhairaguri VDC under 36 No. Harishinga (ST) BTC Constituency is hereby removed from the Chairmanship of the said VCDC with immediate effect,” it further read.
It is to be noted that UPPL is an ally of the ruling BJP in Assam.
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