Kokrajhar, Feb. 4: Assam election commissioner H.N. Bora today said the election process for the 46-member Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) will be completed by April 10 so that a new council can take charge before Bihu.

"Though the final date is yet to be announced, I can say we will complete the election process by April 10," Bora told reporters here after holding two back-to-back meetings.

Bora first held a closed-door meeting with district deputy commissioners, subdivisional officers and returning officers of the four BTC-administered districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri.

Later, he met representatives of political parties and organisations for their views and suggestions and to clear any doubts they might have regarding the elections that will be held in 40 constituencies of the Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD).

Both the meetings were held at the Kokrajhar deputy commissioner's office here.

Bora said the election commission was trying to conduct the election in a single phase through ballots. He said measures would be taken to ensure violence-free and smooth conduct of elections. "We already had two meetings with senior police officers. They said they have enough security personnel this time. So we hope to conduct the elections peacefully," he said.

Several political parties and organisations, including the Bodoland People's Front (BPF), AGP, BJP, Congress, CPM, and the All Bodo Students' Union (Absu), participated in the meeting and expressed their views and suggestions. They urged the commission to ensure free and fair elections and demanded adequate security for violence-free polls.

The adviser of the Kokrajhar district unit of Absu, Lorence Islary, demanded central assistance and installation of CCTVs at sensitive polling stations.

The BTC has 46 members of whom 40 are elected and six are nominated from un-represented communities.

Bora said the Assam State Election Commission had notified the time schedule for preparation and publication of constituency-wise electoral roll. The date of publication of the draft electoral roll is February 12. The last date of receiving claims and objections is February 27. March 6 is the date for disposal of claims and objections and March 16 is the date for final publication of electoral rolls.

Bora urged the parties to inform the administration and police stations in their areas before setting up election offices for security reasons. He also sought cooperation from all to ensure free and fair elections.