Atal Bohtar

    

The Honorable Atal Bohtar MP
Secretary of State of Superior
In office December 17, 2015 – January 7, 2022
Monarch	William II
President	Jennifer Granholm
Preceded by	Quinn Justice
Succeeded by	Steven Foley
Leader of the Farmer Labor Party
In office May 6, 2014 – April 7, 2023
Deputy	Natalie Hoover
Preceded by	Thomas Kraft
Succeeded by	Joe Werner
Member of the House of Delegates for Burnsville-Eagan (Rochester's 2nd district)
Incumbent
Assumed office October 23, 2011
Preceded by	Joseph McClarky
Personal details
Born	(1981-11-23) November 23, 1981 Des Moines, Iowa, Superior
Nationality	Superian
Political party	Farmer Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Suvira Paatel
Children	1
Education	University of Minnesota

Atal Prakash Mehta Bohtar is a Superian politician and teacher who served as Secretary of State from 2015 to 2022 under Jennifer Granholm and is a member of the House of Delegates representing Bunrsville-Eagan (Rochester's 2nd electoral district) since 2011. He is a life-long member of the Farmer Labor Party and served as its leader between 2014 and 2023.

Bohtar, born Atal Prakash Metha, was born in Des Moines, Iowa, but would grow up in a foster family in Mason City. He would legally change his last name to Bohtar during his senior year of high school. Bothar would eventually attend the University of Minnesota, receiving a degree in English literature and elementary school-level administration. Before entering politics, Bohtar would teach at Eagan Elementary School as a special needs instructor. In 2011, Bohtar would enter politics, running for a seat in the House of Delegates as a member of the left-wing Farmer Labor Party. Because of his local popularity, Bohtar would easily win the seat, becoming the House Delegate for Burnsville-Eagans. As a House Delegates, Bohtar supported many socially progressive bills, which usually revolved around gay marriage, drug liberalization, and education.

In January 2014, longtime party leader Thomas Kraft would resign from the leadership following a ethics scandal, resulting in a leadership election. Bohtar would declare his candidacy in March and would instantly become the frontrunner, eventually winning the race in May. Bohtar is the first Indian-Superian leader of a political party and is the second minority leader of the Farmer Labor Party. Although initially hostile towards Jennifer Granholm and her Liberal Democrats, Bohtar would agree to an electoral and legislative coalition after the 2015 federal election between the Liberal Democrats, the Farmer Labor Party, the Green Party, and the Reform Party known as the Progressive Bloc. Immediately after the creation of the Progressive Bloc, Bohtar would become Secretary of State in Granholm's government. As Secretary of State, Bohtar has been influential in enforcing many of the new domestic policies enacted by the Granholm government, including electoral reform and immigration.

As leader of the Farmer Labor Party, Bohtar continued the party's commitement towards socialy democratic and progressive policies and established a party charter that laid out the party's policies and ideological positions: support for the advancement and complete implementation of LGBT rights in Superior, support for establishment of a system of universal healthcare, drug liberalization and the pardoning of all individuals imprisoned on non-violent drug offenses. Starting in 2020, Bohtar announced support for the police abolition movement and supported defunding police departments, despite vocal opposition from his coalition partners. The Famrer Labor Party made gains in the elections of 2015, 2019, and 2020. In 2022, the party lost two seats and Bohtar would be replaced as Secretary of State due to the Conservative Coalition winning the election. On 26 February 2023, Bohtar announced his resignation as Leader of the Farmer Labor Party and triggered a leadership election. He would be succeeded by Joe Werner, an MP from Lansing, as party leader on April 7, 2023 with Natalie Hoover continuing as deputy leader under him.

Bohtar describes himself as a social democrat and a social progressive. Bohtar supports the expansion of LGBTQ+ and minority rights in Superior, being a large proponent of the Federal Hate Crime Act. Bohtar supports the legalization of recreational drugs, claiming the mental and economic benefits of recreational drugs outweigh the negative effects. Bohtar also supports releasing all criminals jailed for drug-related charges. Bohtar supports the defunding and demilitarization of Superian police departments and the creation of public safety offices as an alternative to police departments. Bohtar supports reforming the educational system to be more inclusive, supporting mandatory LGBTQ+ history classes and restricting federal funding for religious-based private schools. Bohtar considers himself as a "spiritual republican", supporting the gradual creation of a Superian republic "once the people are ready for it". On foreign policy, Bohtar supports the normalization of relations with the United Commonwealth, calling it "essential for Superior's future".

Early life, education, and career

Atal Prakesh Mehta was born on November 23rd, 1981 to unknown parents. What is known is that both of his parents were immigrants from western India and travelled to Superior in 1978. At five months, Bohtar would be abandoned by his parents at a city park, resulting in his placement into the Superian foster care system. In 1983, Bohtar would be put under the care of Mark and Julie Wagner, who he would stay with for the remainder of his childhood. Bohtar would grow up alongside the Wagner's son, John, and five other foster kids. According to Bohtar, his childhood after being taken in by the Wagner's was "much more brighter". During his senior year of high school, he would legally change his last name to Bohtar, the same last name of one of his foster sisters.

Bohtar doing a 2014 Sixty Minutes interview regarding the incident with his foster sister, which was apart of the program's racism special.

Bohtar would begin his educational career at age 5, attending Mason City Elementary School. He would later graduate to Mason City Intermediate School in 1992. After graduating from junior high school, Bohtar would begin attending John Logger High School. While in high school, Bohtar would begin to develop his political views. Originally supportive of the Liberal Democratic Party, Bohtar would begin supporting the Farmer Labor Party, eventually joining the party once he reached voting age. During his senior year, Bohtar would become vice president of his graduating class. Bohtar and his family would make local headlines in 1998 after local police were called on Bohtar after he picked up his youngest foster sister, Julianne, who was white, from school. Bohtar was detained for possible kidnapping, but after it was confirmed that he was the foster brother of Julianne, the police would let him go before taking him to jail. This would cause a local outcry, resulting in a public apology from the police department, and the caller, to Bohtar and his family. According to Bohtar in a 2020 interview, the event would help cement his views on racism and police reform.

Bohtar would graduate from John Logger High School in 1999 and would begin attending the University of Minnesota later in the year. Bohtar originally was working towards a degree in engineering, but would later switch his studies to English literature and elementary school-level administration, hoping to enter the educational sector. While at university, Bohtar got involved with campus politics, serving as a Class Senator for English. During his last years at university, he would become Speaker of the Student Senate. Bohtar would also join the school's Farmer Labor club and would actively campaign for Farmer Labor candidates in Saint Anthony and other surround towns and cities. Bohtar would graduate from the University of Minnesota in 2005, with a bachelor's degree in English literature and elementary-level administration.

Bohtar would begin working at Eagan Elementary Teacher after moving to the town in 2007. Initially, he started out as a teacher's aid, however he would later be given the role of a special needs instructor, working with children with a large array of mental and physical disabilities. As a special needs teacher, he was known as kind and also helpful. For his work as a special needs instructor, Bohtar was recognized by the Eagans School District, earning an award. He would continue working as a special needs instructor until 2011, when he finally entered politics.

Political career

House of Delegates

Elections

In 2011, Bohtar would declare his candidacy for the Burnsville-Eagans constituency, hoping to de-seat longtime Liberal Democratic incumbent Joseph McClarky. Bohtar would easily win the Farmer Labor primary and become the main challenger to McClarky. Bohtar would fight a uphill battle against McClarky, who had generate much more funding and initial support. On election night, however, Bohtar would narrowly defeat McClarky, winning 51% of the vote. McClarky would briefly retire from politics, before returning and winning a seat in the High Council in 2019. Bohtar would run for re-election in the 2015, 2019, and 2020 federal elections, winning each election with a higher margin than before.

Bohtar's 2019 campaign would come under investigation after reports of campaign financing irregularities by former staffers. The investigation, led by the House Committee on Electoral Malpractices, would find that claims were false, however opposition members alleged a cover up, since the House Committee on Electoral Malpractices was led by members of the Farmer Labor Party. Bohtar has denied any campaign irregularities or wrongdoings, claiming that his campaigns are "probably the most cleanest thing you'll see in politics". Any further requests by the Conservative Coaltion for investigations into Bohtar's campaigns have been denied by the federal government.

Tenure

During his tenure as a House Delegate, Bohtar has been characterized as one of the more left wing members of the House of Delegates. He has supported socially progressive and borderline socialist legislation, both proposed by his own party and other members of the Progressive Bloc. Bohtar was very vocally supportive of the Federal Hate Crime Bill, which defined federal hate crimes, calling it "a step into the light". He was also supportive of the failed Federal Legalization Act, which would have legalized recreational cannabis, criticizing members of the Progressive Bloc who voted against it. Bohtar has supported legislation aimed at wealthy Superians, supporting legislation like the No More Billionaires Act, which would have capped personal wealth and also redistribute assets owned by billionaires and the Regulation Act, which added new environmental and labor regulations on large corporations. Bohtar also briefly supported the Enough is Enough Act, which would have given assets owned by the Royal family of Superior to the federal government, however he would withdraw his support after a considerable amount of backlash from the Superian people.

Leader of the Farmer Labor Party

On January 6th, 2014, long time leader of the Farmer Labor Party Thomas Kraft would announce his resignation as both party leader and member of the House of Delegates after leaked audio of him threaten to harm United Conservative Delegate Lisa Paytos was released to the public, resulting in an ethics investigation by the House Ethics Committee. His resignation would result in a leadership election. Though initially doubtful about a run, Bohtar would announce his candidacy for the leadership position in March. He would instantly become the frontrunner, largely due to his popularity and relative youthfulness compared to his opponents. On May 5th, 2014, Bohtar would defeat his primary opponent, Carol Street, and become the leader of the Farmer Labor Party.

Under his leadership, the Farmer Labor Party would continue its shift to the left, with more of the younger members of the party expressing very left wing political views. During his first year as leader, Bohtar would be an open critic of both the Alexander Harper government and the Leader of the Opposition Jennifer Granholm. However, after Granholm's victory in the 2015 Superian federal election, Bohtar would dial down his criticisms, which would eventually lead to the creation of the Progressive Bloc. Under Bohtar, the Farmer Labor Party in the west would virtually collapse, while support in the east quickly grew. The party's gains in the east in both state and federal elections were inpart for his decision to join the Progressive Bloc and would see the party make gains even during the bloc's underperformance in the 2019 federal election and 2020 snap election.

Bohtar himself is a political republican and supports the republican movement and saw the republican faction of the party rise under his leadership. This rise was documented and was highlighted by major media outlets leading many to question the party's official neutral stance towards the monarchy. In 2019 when asked about his stance on the monarchy and the position of the Farmer Labor Party, he re-affirmed how he would only support a referendum if there was enough public support, but remained a supporter for the republican movement and a critic of the monarchy. He would notably be absent from most events involving the monarchy with a few exceptions like William II's address to parliament in January 2021 addressing COVID-19 and the efforts to stop the virus.

Resignation

Main article: 2023 Farmer Labor Party leadership election

Bohtar announced his resignation as Leader of the Farmer Labor Party on 26 February 2023 at a press conference held in the party's headquarters in New Hamburg, Lansing. Bohtar cited his personal concerns with leading the party in a successful election effort against the governing Conservative Coalition along with issues of internal conflict and factionalism within the party's ranks, citing the New Farmer Labor Parliamentary Group breaking off to form the New Labor Party as his biggest failure, though he wouldn't express regret for supporting Granholm during Courtgate. In accordance with party convention, Bohtar will remain as party leader until a successor has been chosen and sworn in at a party leadership convention. In the same speech, Bohtar stated that he would remain as a member of parliament and would continue to serve as chief party whip in the House of Delegates.

Secretary of State

Selection and confirmation

After the formation of the Progressive Bloc, Jennifer Granholm began politically diversifying her Cabinet of Superior, hoping to ensure each party of the new coalition was represented in the government. As leader of the second largest party of the coalition, Bohtar was essentially confirmed a spot in the Cabinet. Media outlets speculated that Bohtar would become Secretary of Education of Superior because of his background in education. However, it would be announced on December 17th, 2015, Bohtar would become Secretary of State, which was originally expected to go to Granholm herself. Bohtar would be confirmed by the High Council, however there were some notable defection votes, including one from long time Liberal Democratic High Councilor John Ray of Arrowhead, who was a vocal opponent to a electoral and legislative coalition.

Tenure

As Secretary of State, Bohtar has enforced many of the domestic policies created by Jennifer Granholm and her government. Bohtar was a key figure in ensuring the enforcement of the legalization of gay marriage in all the states, coming into conflict with western states like Wyoming and Frontier, who were initially opposed to legalization. Bohtar also has enforced many laws pertaining to electoral reform, hoping to add greater transparency to the electoral and vote counting process. In 2017, a lawsuit by many western states was filed against Bohtar, claiming that the immigration quotas he was enforcing were "impossible" and "borderline unconstitutional". After a year long battle, a judge ruled in favor of Bohtar, however, he did recommend Bohtar to "ease on the racial quotas", which Bohtar would begin to do in late 2018.

In 2018, Bohtar would play a key role in the creation of a non-partisan redistricting committee. This committee would have reviewed complaints from constituents about possible gerrymandering, and would redraw a district. However, this committee would be ruled unconstitutional by the National Court, since districts are only redrawn after a national census. In response, Bohtar called the Constitution "outdated" and in "dire need of modernization". His comments would generate controversy and backlash from conservative politicians and media outlets. In 2019, Bohtar was supportive of legislation regarding High Council reforms, stating that the High Council needed "reform in order to continue forward". After the start of ethics investigations against the Granholm government, Bohtar would be against any form of investigation, attempting to use his office to shutdown the investigations. His efforts to stop these investigation were unsuccessful. Bohtar was one of the only Cabinet members not accused of any wrongdoing during the 2019-2020 Granholm government accusations, along with Deputy President Quentin Bradshaw and Secretary of Veteran's Affairs Jason Marks.

In 2017, Bohtar would emerge as a major figure for the 2017 Superior–United Commonwealth Diplomatic Summit where he was the lead diplomat who met with foreign ministers from the United Commonwealth as part of the warming and re-establishment of relations between both Superior and the United Commonwealth. Bohtar would give a speech following the opening of the new embassy in Chicago calling it a "major and critical historic moment" and praised his Continental counterpart for supporting the effort to re-establish and normalize relations between the two historic rivals. After the summit, Bohtar was subjected to heavy criticism by conservative parties and MPs calling him a sympathizer and appeaser to the Commonwealth citing their human rights issues and historic acts against Superior, but he defended himself and the decision stating "the time of war and aggression is over and the time for peace is here. For the futue of our children and for peace, we must normalize ties". In 2018 he gave a speech apologizing for the Sacking of Chicago in 1868 during the War of Contingency alongside Granholm where he called the act "abhorant" and also hoped that both nations could pursue peace despite 150 years of tension and conflict.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bohtar would help impose numerous restrictions on international travel to and from Superior as well meet with numerous world leaders and diplomats including with officials of the Intercontinental Coronavirus Vaccination Program to see if Superior could join or an agreement could be made to acquire much needed resources and knowledge for the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. In 2020, Bohtar would oversee Superior's pariticipation in Operation Red Swallow, a CAS-led military operation to support member states with aid and supplies against COVID-19, and would recieve his first dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in 2021. Starting in April of 2021, Bohtar would convince Granholm to support relief efforts towards India due to the nation's horrific struggle against COVID-19 including sending oxygen tanks and other supplies that are in chronic shortage in India. On May 1, Bohtar spoke at a charity event supporting relief saying "the people of India, my people, are suffering horrifically against COVID and are running out of supplies. I praise Granholm for providing some relief" in a speech in Saint Anthony.

Political positions

Main article: Political positions of Atal Bohtar

Bohtar identifies himself as a social democrat and a social progressive. Since the beginning of his political career, Bohtar has supported the expansion of LGBTQ+ and minority rights, voting in favor of both the Acceptance Act and later the Federal Acceptance Act. Bohtar also supports the legalization of certain recreational drugs, claiming that the economic and supposed mental health benefits outweigh the negatives of drug use. Bohtar supports lowering the voting age to 16, saying: "Teenagers make up a good portion of our country, and have essentially no representation in government." Bohtar also supports lowering the drinking and smoking age to 18, calling the current laws on this "too conservative".

As a teacher, Bohtar supports comprehensive educational reform, saying that the current education curriculum was promoting "white supremacy". His claims have been unfounded. Bohtar supports the removal of any form of "nationalistic thought" in education, including the rewriting of certain historical events, including the Battle of Lake Winnebago. Bohtar is a very vocal supporter of affirmative action. Like many in the Progressive Bloc, Bohtar supports the normalization of relations with the United Commonwealth, calling it "essential for Superior's future." Bohtar also supports greater participation in the Conference of American States, hoping for the eventual unification of Anglo-America.

Personal life

Marriage and family

During his 2015 campaign, Bohtar would begin a romantic relationship with one of his campaign aides, Suvira Paatel. Paatel was the daughter of Indian immigrants, similar to Bohtar. Both of her parents were politically involved, however, they supported the Liberal Democrats. The couple would continue dating up until their marriage in 2019. In early 2020, the couple would announce the birth of their son, Nalin. In the same year, the couple would reveal that their son was diagnosed with a heart condition and was on life support for a week after his birth.

Interests

Bohtar is a fan of ice hockey, supporting the Saint Anthony North Stars. Bohtar is also a fan of competitive swimming, participating in a few events before his entry into politics. He is an avid player of the violin, reportedly planning one during the Progressive Bloc's victory party after the 2019 federal election. He can also play the piano, albeit at a beginners pace according to him. Although politics take up most of his time, Bohtar has supported and donated to many children's charities. He also has visited with many children with disabilities. According to Bohtar, he is an avid fan of Alternate history.

See also

• 2014 Farmer Labor Party of Superior leadership election
• Political positions of Atal Bohtar
• Cabinet of Superior