Delimitation of constituencies: Election Commission of India (ECI) seeks statistical data and maps from Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: For the purpose of delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies of Assam, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has sought a large mass of statistical data and maps within January 15.

In this regard, the ECI has written a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Assam. On the basis of this letter, the CEO has in turn written to all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to provide all the statistical data and maps sought by the ECI within January 8.

The letter sent by the ECI to the CEO, Assam states that all administrative units, namely, districts/sub-divisions/Talukas/Tahsils/development blocks/police stations/thana etc. and wards in urban areas and villages in rural areas in the State adopted for the Census should be adjusted according to the lowest administrative or developmental units in the State that are in vogue.

Also, the position of the administrative units should be as on January 1, 2023 and the data of 2001 census furnished for each unit. While forwarding the data, the CEO has been asked to certify that "the spellings of all units have been checked and found to be correct and that data has been tallied completely".

The Election Commission of India will require good quality district/taluk/tehsil/thana/city maps showing clearly the latest administrative units or development units as the case may be in vogue showing clearly communication facilities, geographical features such as rivers, hills, mountains, lakes, etc.

The Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India, has asked the Election Commission of India to conduct the delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies in Assam. Under the provisions of the Delimitation Act, 1972, the last delimitation of constituencies in Assam was done on the basis of census figures, 1971 by the then Delimitation Commission in 1976.

The ECI will design and finalize its own guidelines and methodology for the purpose of delimiting the constituencies. During the delimitation exercise, the Commission will keep in mind the physical features, existing boundaries of administrative units, facility of communication, public convenience and as far as practicable, the constituencies will be kept as geographically compact area.

Once a draft proposal of delimitation of constituencies in Assam is finalized by the Commission, it will be published in the Central and State Gazettes for inviting suggestions/objections from the general public.

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