Assam: TMC leader Sushmita Dev stages hunger strike protesting ECI’s delimitation draft

TMC leader alleged that Assembly seats in other districts are being increased at the cost of reducing seats in Barak Valley

TMC Leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev is holding a hunger strike in Silchar against the Election Commission of India’s draft Delimitation proposal.

The 10-hour-long hunger strike began at 9 am today at Narsingtola Maidan and will continue till 7 PM.

Sushmita Dev is holding the hunger strike along with her supporters in a bid to voice her opposition to the ECI’s Delimitation draft proposal.

A draft of the proposed delimitation for Assam’s 126 Assembly seats and 14 Lok Sabha constituencies was released by the ECI on June 20.

The number of Assembly seats in the three districts of Barak Valley, which was 15 until the elections in 2021, will be decreased to 13 under the proposed proposal.

Speaking exclusively to Northeast Live, the TMC leader alleged that Assembly seats in other districts are being increased at the cost of reducing seats in Barak Valley.

“At a time when the population have increased, the voters have increased in Barak Valley, we do not understand why the ECI formula or modality has led to the decrease of seats from 15 to 13. I believe this exercise has been started. There is a political agenda here and it is crystal clear to me what it is. I want a message to go throughout the state and the country that Barak Valley feels deprived,” said Dev.

Sushmita Deb also questioned the timing of carrying out the delimitation process, alleging that it has no justification.

In Assam, the 2001 census data have been recommended to be utilised for the delimitation process despite the fact that the 2011 census data was available. Following this, 11 political parties had asked the Election Commission for clarification on this matter.

The Commission will visit Assam again this month for a public hearing on the draft proposal.

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