Row over delimitation: Former Union min and 4-time BJP MP Rajen Gohain to meet HM Shah

Unhappy with the 'formula' prepared for the exercise, Rajen Gohain had quitted as Chairman of Assam Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Limited

Has the Delimitation move evoked dissatisfaction among a section of leaders in the Assam BJP?

Although this cannot be generalized, former Union minister and 4-time Lok Sabha MP from Nagaon is certainly unhappy with the Delimitation exercise.

Gohain, infact is supposed to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah today and apprise him about his ‘grievances and objections’ with regard to the delimitation process.

Gohain’s proposed meeting with Amit Shah assumes a lot of significance in the runup to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, since Gohain has been one of the seasoned leaders who has helped the party in consolidating its base in the state.

Unhappy with the Delimitation ‘Formula’ in Assam which has already received a nod of President Droupadi Murmu, Rajen Gohain had stepped down as the Chairman of Assam Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Limited with immediate effect on August 18. The post was equivalent to a Cabinet rank.

According to Rajen Gohain the delimitation exercise has rendered the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat ‘unwinnable’ for the BJP owing to demographic change.

Informing about his decision, Gohain sent a letter to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

In his letter, Rajen Gohain mentioned, “I have been a good advocate of our party and its ideology for more than two decades and always supported and nurtured it with full capacity but the recent delimitation process has rendered the 10-Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency un- winnable for BJP candidate in the future also putting the people of Nagaon under threat because of the demography change.”

Briefing newspersons, Rajen Gohain said, “The post which was given to me by the Chief Minister with cabinet status as the Chairman of the Assam Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Limited, I have officially resigned from that post. Through delimitation the government has been able to safeguard 106 constituencies, this is a welcome step, there is no doubt about that. From the Nagaon LS seat the BJP has won in the last 20 years, but I am unable to understand that in terms of the Nagaon LS seat why it was handed over to Badruddin Ajmal (AIUDF Chief).”

Not only Rajen Gohain, senior leader of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Prodip Hazarika also resigned from party posts expressing his dissatisfaction after the Election Commission of India (ECI) published the final delimitation order for assembly and parliamentary constituencies of Assam.

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