Election Commission of India begins hearing on draft delimitation proposals for Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The three-member team of the Election Commission of India (ECI), led by CEC (Chief Election Commissioner) Rajiv Kumar, began public hearings on the draft delimitation proposals for Assam today.

The representatives of various organizations from nine districts of the state, including Kamrup (M), West Karbi Anglong, Chirang, Dima Hasao, Udalguri, Karbi Anglong, etc., met the ECI team.

ECI is hearing the organizations in three different groups simultaneously. One of the groups is led by CEC Rajiv Kumar, one by EC Arul Goel, and the other by EC Anup Chandra Pandey.

The ECI team heard the views and objections of the organizations with patience. The most prominent among the organizations that met the ECI team today are AASU (All Assam Students’ Union), ABSU (All Bodo Students’ Union), etc.

The ECI received over 780 representations after the publication of the draft delimitation proposals. The public hearing is a part of the consultative exercise by the Commission during the process of delimitation.

After submitting its memorandum to the ECI, AASU’s chief adviser, Samujjal Bhattacharjya, said, “We had welcomed the ECI for taking 2001 as the base year for the delimitation exercise. We, however, said in writing that the draft proposals need some changes to protect the interests and rights of the indigenous people of the state. We have also urged the ECI to provide proper representation for the indigenous Muslims of the state. We said that the names of Lahowal and Amguri LACs should be restored. We have also made it a point to keep the names of LACs that have historic backgrounds intact.”

Speaking to the media after submitting a memorandum to the ECI, ABSU president Dwipen Boro said, “We need two Lok Sabha seats in the BTR—Udalguri along with the existing Kokrajhar, besides four reserved Assembly seats. We have raised several objections before the commission.”

AATS (All Assam Tribal Sangha) secretary general Aditya Khakhlari said, “We want 20 reserved seats for STs against 19 in the draft proposals. We also want de-reservation of the Dimoria LAC reserved for SC in the draft proposals. We want the EC to de-reserve it to pave the way for indigenous people residing there to contest elections in the LAC. We want the Samaria LAC to be reserved for SC.”

Though the ECI has not changed the number of parliamentary and assembly constituencies, the state witnessed protests against the realignment of constituencies and changes in their names. The delimitation proposals seek to retain the number of Lok Sabha seats at 14 and the number of Assembly seats at 126. The scheduled tribes are proposed to be allocated 19 of the 120 seats in the State Assembly and two of the 14 Lok Sabha seats. The Scheduled Castes are proposed to be allocated nine seats in the Assembly and one seat in the Lok Sabha.

The Commission will hear from national and state political parties tomorrow, among other organizations.

The hearing will conclude on July 21.

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