Another Assam MLA dies due to COVID-19
Guwahati: Assam lost two sitting legislators within a week to COVID-19 after United People's Party Liberal MLA Leho Ram Boro succumbed to the coronavirus infection at a hospital here on Saturday, a doctor of the medical facility said.
He was 63.
Boro was admitted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital on Thursday after he tested positive for the disease.
"His condition deteriorated since Friday night. He suffered a cardiac arrest and died of COVID today," the doctor of the state-run hospital said.
The first time UPPL legislator is survived by two sons.
Four-time Gossaigaon MLA Majendra Narzary died due to post-COVID complications on Wednesday.
Boro defeated his nearest rival of Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF) candidate Rangja Khungur Basumatary by a margin of over 32,000 votes in Tamulpur constituency in the recently concluded assembly elections.
Boro and Narzary were elected to the assembly from constituencies in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
In a condolence message, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "I deeply mourn the untimely demise of Tamulpur MLA Leho Ram Boro. He was a dedicated politician and his going away is a big loss for the state."
Sarma directed ministers U G Brahma and Ashok Singhal to be present at the funeral as representatives of the state government.
Boro's last rites will be conducted with full state honours.
Former Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also expressed his "deep anguish at the untimely demise of the UPPL legislator who will be remembered for his community services".
Bodoland Territorial Council chief Pramod Boro also condoled the demise of the legislator and said his death was a "great loss for the Tamulpur region and the entire UPPL family".
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
