Delimitation' may not be possible before 2021 polls, feels Himanta Biswa Sarma

GUWAHATI: Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said, "I think the delimitation process of constituencies in Assam may not be possible before the 2021 Assembly elections."

He added, "For the delimitation process to take place, the Parliament will have to amend the Delimitation Act. The present legislation specifically says that the delimitation process will have to be carried out on the basis of the 2001 Census. But, a Census was carried out in 2011 also. Hence, the Act will have to be amended so that the delimitation process is undertaken as per the latest Census.

"But, no such step has been initiated by the Government of India."

The present Act on delimitation was passed before the 2011 Census.

Sarma, however, added, "Of course, the delimitation process will be needed when Clause-VI of the Assam Accord will be implemented in the State. Probably, the present move is a step in advance to prepare at least the report by the Commission.

The Government of India constituted the Delimitation Commission for Assam and some others States in 2019.

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