Assam Delimitation Draft: Election Commission to hear objections for 3 days from July 19

delimitation draft for State of Assam was published by Election Commission of India on June 20. It has received  mixed reactions from various political parties and common public as well. In this delimitation, number of constituencies, in both, Legislative Assembly and Parliament, remains unchanged and it has only undergone some reshaping. 

ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its major alliance Asom Gana Parish have welcomed delimitation draft and have termed it a saviour of indigenous people of State. On or hand, Congress as well as AIUDF have raised objections to delimitation exercise on various grounds. 

Speaking to Republic, Debabrata Saikia, Leer of Opposition in Assam Legislative Assembly, said that exercise is not acceptable at this point as NRC process is not yet completed in State. "In 2008, All Assam Students' Union objected to delimitation, when exercise was being done by Delimitation Commission across country stating that NRC process was not completed in State. Respecting sentiments of people of Assam through amendment in Constitution, we delayed it. But now when move is being me, we still don't have a proper NRC, so how can it be done!" Saikia said. 

He ded that at least 19 lakh people of State failed to get ir names in draft NRC. " fate of se 19 lakh people whose names didn't appear on draft NRC is hanging. y don't know wher y are Indian citizens or not. If y are Indian citizens, n y should be part of delimitation process, but because ir names didn't appear in draft NRC, y are now doubtful voters and cannot participate in this exercise, so any move excluding m will be unconstitutional," Debabrata Saikia said. 

or grounds on which Congress party has objected to process are - not following equitable population pattern, geographical continuity as well availability of proper infrastructure. 

Meanwhile, All Students' Union, that h objected to delimitation exercise in 2008, said that y welcome some of proposals me in delimitation draft. However, y want base year to be 1991. Supporting ir argument, AASU has said, " delimitation to be done post-2026 should be on basis of 1991 census as only n Constitutional Safeguard guaranteed through Clause 6 of Assam Accord will hold ground," statement signed by Working President Utpal Sarma and General Secretary Sankarjyoti Baruah re. 

AIUDF, on or hand, is unhappy with process as according to draft published, number of minority-dominated constituencies has gone down. y have also alleged that it divides voters on religious lines. 

"Now we have 29 Muslim majority constituencies, but after delimitation, we will only have 22 constituencies where Muslims will be in majority," said AIUDF General Secretary Karimuddin Barbhuiya. 

Asom Gana Parish spokesperson Partha Pratim Borah, who has suggested some changes to be brought in constituency of Sootea, spoke to Republic and expressed happiness over exercise. However, he ded that number of reserved constituencies for indigenous communities should have been proposed along with reservations me for ST and SC communities.

After publication of draft, Election Commission of India invited objections and suggestions to draft and 11 opposition parties raised ir objections. Commission will sit in Guwahati for three days from July 19 to 21 to hear all political parties who have raised objections or have me suggestions on draft.