Delimitation exercise: Assembly, Parliamentary constituencies in Assam will remain same; says CEC Rajiv Kumar

The Election Commission of India (ECI) today said that there will be no change in the number of assembly and parliamentary constituencies after the delimitation process is completed.

Briefing newpersons, after 2-days of hectic parleys with different stakeholders, CEC Rajiv Kumar who was leading the delegation said this. CEC Rajiv Kumar mentioned,”126 assembly seats and 14 parliamentary seats will remain the same. We have given time by extending the date to April 15 and during that time anybody can give their suggestion to the ECI. We will then publish a draft and will give one-month time for taking suggestions on it. We will come back to Assam again to provide a personal hearing of the issues listed in the draft.”

Kumar said that the full bench of the ECI listened to all the stakeholders regarding their social, cultural, historical, geographical concerns and as far as possible, by integrating these aspects, a critical process like delimitation will move ahead.

The Chief Election Commissioner also informed that the Commission had met representatives of political parties including BJP, AGP, TMC, NCP, CPI-M (Marxist), BPF, UPPL, Raijor Dol, Axom Jatiya Parishad and Lok Raksha Party as well as representatives of at least 60 civil society organisations hailing from different parts of the state.

“We have been able to get very good suggestions and comments of aspirations of the people across the length and breadth of the state.
Let me admit their suggestions have really helped us. very greatly it has helped. It has improved our understanding of the issues which are involved in the exercise, which is very critical and complex,” CEC Rajiv Kumar said.

Speaking about the key suggestions that the Commission recieved during the 2-day deliberations, CEC Rajiv Kumar said,”We have been asked as to why we were taking the 2001 census population figures, they (stakeholders) asked us to take the latest census figures instead.

Some were in favour, some were against (taking 2001 census figures, increasing assembly & parliamentary seats).

People invariably asked for adequate representation of SC and ST constituencies.

There was another suggestion which said that in Upper Assam, where there is a minor increase in the population figures in comparison to other areas, there must be 30% variation in Assembly Constituencies and Parliamentary Constituencies for adequate representation.

There were also representations which sought to know that since delimitation had stopped in 2008, than why did it was started again immediately by us? Another representation asked, delimitation is due in 2026 in the entire country, so why is the delimitation being carried out now & why not after 2026?”

The Chief Election Commissioner in a clear message to the stakeholders assured,”We will consider with great care and with due consideration, all the suggestions which have been recieved by us and as far as possible under principles of equity and abiding by the law, we will make all efforts to include these (suggestions) in the delimitation proposal.”

Responding to the Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah’s allegations that the delimitation exercise is “match-fixing”, Rajiv Kumar said, “We are habituated to hearing this. There is no point of fixation because first disclosure was done and then we took suggestions before the publication of draft”.

The process of the delimitation exercise was started in December last year. It was in pursuance of the request received from the Union Ministry of Law and Justice. Delimitation falls under Section 8A of the Re-Representation of the People Act, 1950.

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