2017 Friends Societal presidential election
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A presidential election was held in Friends Society on 27 January 2017, the day when Children's Group was renamed to the Republic of Friends Society. Since only one candidate had submitted their nomination, the voting did not take place and the sole candidate and incumbent acting president Sarala Baishya was declared unopposed elected as the president.
Background
The presidential election was initially scheduled to be held in April 2017 when the six months tenure of president Anoushkaa Patranabish who was elected in October 2016, was to end. However, on 13 December 2016, the parliament passed a successful impeachment procedure against her. Following her impeachment, she was supposed to be succeeded by the vice-president. However, the office of the vice-president was vacant following the resignation of Arnab Sil on 27 November 2016 and was temporarily being filled by Bishnu Chetry, meanwhile, the prime minister Varuna Sriraya was serving as the chief justice making the first two holders in the presidential line of succession impossible to succeed Patranabish as acting president. Thereupon, the next in line to the chief justice was the Governor of Beltola (administrator at that time since the lieutenant governor of Central Guwahati held the charge of the governor of Beltola) and hence then serving administrator Sarala Baishya was named to succeed Anoushkaa Patranabish as the acting president.
Thus, an election was to be held to elect a full-time president. The election was scheduled for 27 January 2017, the same day when Children's Group became the Friends Society. It was also on the same day when the vice-presidential election took place. The government nominated Sarala Baishya, the acting president as the candidate for the presidential election. Since no other candidate had submitted their nominations, she was declared unopposed elect as the president.
Post-election developments
Despite being elected for a fresh tenure as the president, Sarala Baishya only remained in office till 11 April 2017 when she submitted her resignation to join active politics. As president, she was on a constitutional non-partisan position, however she continued to remain as the President of the Friends Society Independent Party, a junior ally in the United Progressive Alliance. Following her resignation, Vice-President Bishnu Chetry became the acting President and remained in office till Varuna Sriraya's appointment as the president.
On 12 April, then prime minister Varuna Sriraya also announced his resignation after he was chosen to be the next president. Sarala Baishya succeeded him as the prime minister and formed an alliance with the Friends Society Freedom Party after breaking the existing coalition with the Secular Party. Varuna Sriraya continued to serve as the president until his own resignation on 25 December 2017 to become the prime minister. He was then succeeded as the president by his vice-president Anoushkaa Patranabish.
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