Delimitation stirs hornet's nest in Asom

Guwahati, May 8 (UNI) The delimitation of constituencies in Asom has sparked a widespread uproar as almost all the political parties along with social and student organisations upped their ante against its implementation.

The Delimitation Commission published the final draft on May 2, and fixed May 11 as the last date for submitting objections and suggestions.

As per the draft, prepared with the Census report as the basis, 27 Assembly constituencies would be reserved, while a number of Lok Sabha constituencies had been extended, albeit maintaining continuity.

The uproar, according to the protesters, stemmed from the fact that the draft was based on a population that included illegal Bangladeshi nationals.

'' That the process has been carried out on the basis of the existing voters' list, it might lead to serious consequences, and preparation of voters' list after the repeal of the IM(DT) Act might be radically different in a number of constituencies. Besides, redrawing of a number of constituencies has been done overlooking the contiguity of areas, conveniences and natural barriers, '' political observers felt.

While the ruling Congress, the BJP and the main Opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), had already announced hectic agitational programme, the Asom Gana Parishad (Progressive), led by former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, today took up the cudgel, dashing a memorandum to the Chairman of the Commission of Delimitation of Constituencies.

'' The electorate of Asom will be at a loss to exercise their fundamental rights with such largescale change in the constituencies. The reservation of the ST or SC constituencies appears to be mostly arbitrary and without logic for want of correct statistics of the electorate, '' AGP(P) general secretary Rupan Kakoti said quoting the memorandum.

Mr Kakoti said the preparation of a correct voters' list was closely connected with the delimitation process and the CEC was urged to embark upon this project on the basis of updated National Register of Citizens (NRC). to safeguard the future politics of the state.

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