Guwahati, July 20: The Election Commission of India has commenced public hearings in Guwahati, Assam, to discuss the draft delimitation proposal for the state. The Full Bench of the commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, will hold meetings with political parties, civil society organizations, and various sections of society over three days until Friday.
The draft delimitation proposal for Assam was published on June 20, 2023, and objections were invited until July 11. During this period, the commission received over 780 representations. These public hearings are an essential part of the consultative process conducted by the commission during the delimitation process, as stated in a release by the poll body.
On the first day of the hearings, the commission heard suggestions for districts such as Kamrup Metropolitan, West Karbi Anglong, Chirang, Baksa, Dima Hasao, Kamrup, Udalguri, Karbi Anglong, and Kokrajhar. The feedback for other districts like Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Sonitpur, Karimganj, Darrang, Hailakandi, Cachar, South Salmara, Nagaon, Morigaon, and Dhubri will be heard on the second day. Finally, on the last day, the commission will focus on Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Golaghat, and Majuli districts.
The draft delimitation proposal aims to increase the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes from 16 to 19 and Scheduled Castes from 8 to 9 in the State legislature. Simultaneously, it retains the total number of Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies at 126 and 14, respectively. The proposal also suggests altering the geographical boundaries of most constituencies, while eliminating some and creating new ones.
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However, opposition parties have expressed reservations about the process, accusing the Election Commission of acting in favor of the ruling BJP. In response, on July 17, 10 opposition leaders from 9 parties of Assam approached the Supreme Court to challenge the ECI’s draft delimitation order. Their concerns revolve around the methodology used for the ongoing delimitation exercise and the application of different average assembly sizes for different districts.
The last delimitation exercise in Assam was conducted in 1976. Subsequently, a commission was established in 2002, but its exercise was deferred in 2008 for four northeastern states, including Assam, due to “security risks” through presidential orders.
Back in 2008, various organizations, including the BJP, had opposed delimitation as they wanted it to be carried out only after the updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to identify and exclude illegal immigrants. However, the NRC carried out in 2019 faced challenges in December 2022 when an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India revealed irregularities in fund utilization and the exclusion of several indigenous people of Assam.
The public hearings hold immense significance as they provide a platform for stakeholders to voice their opinions, suggestions, and objections. The Election Commission’s consultative approach aims to ensure a fair and representative delimitation process that upholds the democratic principles of inclusivity and equal representation. As the hearings progress, the Election Commission will carefully consider all feedback received before finalizing the delimitation proposal for Assam.
