Guwahati: Opposition events in Assam have lambasted the Election Fee’s (EC) draft proposal for the delimitation of meeting and parliamentary constituencies within the state, alleging that it’s partisan in the direction of the ruling BJP.
Questions have additionally been raised over the methodology and timing of the draft, which comes amid the ethnic strife in neighbouring Manipur and fewer than a yr earlier than the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Launched by the EC Tuesday, the delimitation proposal maintains Assam’s whole Lok Sabha and meeting seats at 14 and 126 respectively. Nevertheless, it raises the variety of meeting seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes from eight to 9, and the Scheduled Tribes’ seats from 16 to 19.
Moreover, the boundaries or nomenclature of some Lok Sabha and meeting seats have been redefined. Whereas sure earlier meeting constituencies not determine within the checklist, new seats have emerged.
One notable change proposed within the draft is the alteration of the Kaliabor Lok Sabha constituency’s title to ‘Kaziranga’. Kaliabor has lengthy been a Congress stronghold, particularly that of the late Tarun Gogoi, a Congress chief and former chief minister, and his household. It has been represented by his son Gaurav Gogoi since 2014.
Talking to ThePrint, Gogoi alleged that the EC’s draft checklist was “purely designed with electoral motives” to profit the BJP, together with breaking apart the Kaliabor LS seat.
“The draft delimitation checklist ready by the EC relies on electoral math, and is an try to weaken the opposition events,” he stated. “The Kaliabor seat is one that each different occasion had been eying for a few years. It was gained by my late father, Tarun Gogoi, and the Congress many instances. On this draft checklist, they’ve tried to splinter the Kaliabor LS into completely different constituencies. Whether or not this checklist turns into closing or not, we are going to wait to see.”
The BJP, in the meantime, has denied such allegations.
Assam BJP spokesperson Dewan Dhrubajyoti Ethical stated the EC had ready the draft after session with all political events, and the BJP had no position in it.
“Our occasion welcomes the draft delimitation proposal and we help the steps taken by the EC within the curiosity of the indigenous Assamese folks. The EC workforce had visited the state and held consultations with opposition events earlier than getting ready the draft,” Ethical stated.
“Like different events, we too have our points, and can apprise the EC throughout the subsequent consultative assembly,” he added.
The Election Fee has invited recommendations and objections to the draft proposal till July 11, following which an EC workforce will revisit the state for a public listening to.
A workforce of EC officers led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar had visited Assam in March to observe the train, and soak up recommendations from stakeholders.
Among the many considerations raised again then was that the EC sought to redraw meeting and Lok Sabha constituencies utilizing 2001 somewhat than 2011 Census figures.
In a press assertion Tuesday, the EC confirmed that it has used the 2001 figures for the delimitation train, acknowledging that “some teams had been in favour, and a few towards this.”
The draft to date has drawn a largely beneficial response from the BJP and its allies, however varied opposition events, from the Congress to the All-India United Democratic Entrance (AIUDF) to the Trinamool Congress, have raised objections for varied causes.
Additionally Learn: In 1st Assam delimitation since 1976, EC faces NRC problem, claims of train being ‘politically motivated’
Kaliabor to Kaziranga
Taking to Twitter after the EC launched its draft checklist, Gaurav Gogoi complained that the Kaliabor Lok Sabha constituency had been “dismembered” and that the “motive is obvious” given the approaching basic elections.
Not shocked to search out that the draft delimitation checklist launched by the Election Fee has dismembered my Lok Sabha seat Kaliabor. The checklist has a number of errors and faults. With lower than a yr left for the polls the motive is obvious. However nothing can cease the winds of change.
— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) June 20, 2023
The current Kaliabor Lok Sabha constituency in central Assam is a basic class seat, spreading throughout Golaghat, Jorhat, Morigaon, and Nagaon districts.
It at present spans 10 meeting constituencies — Samaguri, Kaliabor, Dhing, Golaghat, Bokakhat, Dergaon (SC), Batadroba, Rupohihat, Sarupathar, and Khumtai.
In response to Election Fee knowledge, the constituency had over 17.3 lakh voters within the 2019 elections. About 31 p.c of the voters listed here are Muslim, in line with knowledge from the 2011 Census.
The proposed new Lok Sabha seat of Kaziranga will comprise 10 meeting segments — Kaliabor, Barhampur, Hojai, Lumding, Golaghat, Dergaon, Bokakhat, Khumtai, Sarupathar, and the newly shaped Binnakandi meeting constituency.
The Congress’s Gogoi clan has gained the LS seat since 1998. In 2014, Gaurav Gogoi defeated the BJP’s Mrinal Kumar Saikia. In 2019, he gained once more, with Moni Madhab Mahanta of the Asom Gana Parishad, a BJP ally, coming second.
‘They wish to lower down Muslim votes’
One of many meeting segments that has been introduced underneath the proposed Kaziranga Lok Sabha constituency is Hojai, the house turf of AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, who has alleged that the draft delimitation proposal was “masterminded by the BJP”.
“They wish to lower down Muslim votes. I believe this draft is a creation of the BJP and finished with malicious intent,” Ajmal stated, addressing the media in Guwahati Wednesday.
“The BJP and the Congress are collectively on this — as a result of they don’t need another occasion in Assam,” he additional alleged. “The Congress will achieve seats. They used to say we’re the B workforce of the BJP. In actuality, the Congress is the A+ workforce of BJP in Assam. We’ll go to the Election Fee towards this draft proposal,” he remarked.
Notably, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma introduced the merger of Hojai district with Nagaon final December, claiming that this was “within the curiosity of Assam’s future and administrative ease”.
An essential meeting constituency within the now defunct Hojai district is Jamunamukh, held by Ajmal’s brother Sirajuddin Ajmal since 2021, and in addition from 2006 to 2014.
Nevertheless, within the draft delimitation proposal, Jamunamukh constituency is nowhere to be discovered, changed as a substitute by a brand new constituency, Binnakandi, with redrawn boundaries. Binnakandi block was previously a part of the Jamunamukh meeting constituency.
One other blow to the AIUDF and the Congress is the whole wipe-out of the Dhing meeting seat, which is a part of the Kaliabor Lok Sabha constituency.
Thought-about a Muslim stronghold, Dhing is at present represented by controversial AIUDF chief and three-time MLA Aminul Islam, who was elected from the constituency in 2011, 2016, and 2021. He had gained by 1,45,888 votes within the final meeting election.
In February 2017, Islam was suspended from the meeting for 3 days for live-streaming his speech within the Home. In 2021, he created a stir when he claimed Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had donated land for the Maa Kamakhya temple in Guwahati.
Since 2006, Dhing has been within the fingers of the AIUDF, however in 1991, 1996, and 2001, the seat was gained by Congress leaders Muzibar Rahman, Mustafa Shahidul Islam, and Idris Ali respectively.
The draft proposal additionally suggests transferring the meeting constituencies of Batadraba, Rupohihat, and Samaguri from Kaliabor LS seat to the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency.
In the meantime, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has dismissed considerations across the disappearance of some seats.
“Some who should forfeit their seats owing to the modifications in delimitation are trying to make this right into a state difficulty. My very own seat, Jalukbari, not exists, however for the bigger curiosity of the folks, I can’t make a fuss about it. I do know from wherever I contest, I can be accepted with love,” the CM remarked whereas interacting with mediapersons in Guwahati this week.
‘Welcome transfer’ for Bodoland
Sarma lauded the delimitation draft Tuesday, saying that it’s for the “safety of the indigenous Assamese communities together with the hill tribes and ethnic teams throughout Higher Assam, Decrease Assam, Central Assam, Barak and Brahmaputra Valleys”.
The variety of meeting seats within the autonomous Bodoland Territorial Area (BTR) has elevated from 16 to 19. Equally, the West Karbi Anglong hill district has gained an meeting constituency.
Pramod Boro, the president of the United Individuals’s Get together Liberal (UPPL) — a BJP ally — and chief govt member of the Bodoland Territorial Council, has welcomed the draft delimitation proposal.
Talking to ThePrint, Boro stated he was particularly happy concerning the EC’s choice to retain the Kokrajhar Lok Sabha constituency as a reserved seat for the Scheduled Tribes within the Bodoland Territorial Area (BTR), which includes the districts of Udalguri, Chirang, Kokrajhar, and Baksa.
Whereas Bodos are concentrated within the BTC areas of Assam, their affect extends to different constituencies, significantly within the Sonitpur, Golaghat, and Karbi Anglong areas.
“We’re glad that our space has garnered extra seats and Kokrajhar constituency is a reserved parliamentary constituency. Kokrajhar has at all times been a tribal seat. Our illustration in Parliament and our grievances and aspirations as one of many primitive tribes of the nation have been fulfilled via the Kokrajhar LS seat,” Boro advised ThePrint.
Nevertheless, Boro has requested that the federal government additionally contemplate Udalguri as a reserved Lok Sabha constituency for the Scheduled Tribes. The delimitation draft proposes that sure elements of Baksa district and the Udalguri (ST) meeting seat — at present a part of the Mangaldoi Lok Sabha constituency — be included within the Darrang Lok Sabha constituency, together with Tamulpur (ST), Goreswar, Bhergaon, Sipajhar, Mangaldoi, and some different areas.
“Throughout session, we had put up our points and had requested the EC that as per the provisions underneath Sixth Schedule, the 2 constituencies of Kokrajhar and Udalguri must be reserved for tribals,” stated Boro.
He additional emphasised that not solely Bodos, but in addition different communities within the Bodoland areas could have illustration, because the variety of basic constituencies is about to extend. The draft proposal consists of the addition of three new meeting constituencies that aren’t reserved for tribals. These are Goreswar underneath the Darrang parliamentary constituency, and Gobardhana and Parbatjhora within the Kokrajhar Lok Sabha constituency.
“In our areas, minorities are additionally glad as a result of they’ll have illustration within the basic seats. Within the strategy of delimitation, we by no means focused any group or tribe, whereas giving our recommendations to the EC,” Boro stated.
Questions over ‘haste’, NRC, Manipur issue
The delimitation draft has come underneath hearth from the Congress for varied causes.
Terming it “unscientific,” Congress MP from Barpeta Abdul Khaleque stated it “violates delimitation pointers for political causes”.
Taking to Twitter Wednesday, Khaleque remarked: “Formally, it’s (a) draft of the Election Fee of India, however virtually it’s of Himanta Biswa Sarma.”
Delimitation draft of Assam constituencies is whole unscientific . It violates delimitation pointers for political causes. Formally it is draft of Election Fee of India, however virtually it is of @himantabiswa . Administrative models has been damaged pointless .
— Abdul Khaleque (@MPAbdulKhaleque) June 21, 2023
In his tweet, he stated that administrative models had been “unnecessarily” damaged. He elaborated additional on this at a press meet in Guwahati.
“They’ve demolished administrative models, which is towards the first situation of the delimitation train,” he stated.
“In Lok Sabha constituencies, for instance, they’ve dissolved an administrative unit of Goalpara district by shifting it to Guwahati. Equally, in Bongaigaon district, two constituencies have been moved underneath Barpeta district and one other to Dhubri. Two different constituencies in Barpeta district have been moved to Dhubri. Distant locations have been linked to much more distant areas,” Khaleque added..
“For legislative assemblies, it’s a horrible proposition. Not simply blocks, they’ve damaged a lot of gram panchayats too, simply to make sure the curiosity of the BJP,” he additional alleged.
MP Gaurav Gogoi additionally expressed concern over “the haste the EC has proven in publishing the delimitation draft”, particularly within the backdrop of the ethnic battle in BJP-ruled Manipur, the place greater than 100 folks have died and whole communities have been displaced.
“Within the wake of what has occurred in Manipur, I hope the BJP is not going to do something that can undermine the delicate regulation and order state of affairs in Assam, as a result of typically a polarised surroundings helps them” Gogoi stated.
“That is nothing past an try to save lots of the fortunes of the BJP in Assam. This draft has not been made on the idea of administrative effectivity or the considerations of native folks, however primarily by evaluating the election outcomes of final two Lok Sabha elections and meeting elections,” he alleged.
In response to him, the “swiftly ready draft” might impression relations between varied ethnic, non secular, and linguistic communities.
“It has the potential to create division between Assamese Hindus vs Bengali Hindus, tribals vs Bengalis, Bodos vs non-Bodos, Scheduled Caste vs Non secular minorities, Scheduled Caste vs Common Neighborhood,” he added.
In the meantime, rejecting the draft delimitation proposal, Assam Trinamool Congress chief Ripun Bora stated in a press assertion that “with out completion of the Nationwide Register of Residents (NRC), the draft delimitation in Assam on the idea of 2001 can’t be accepted”.
He alleged that the BJP is eyeing electoral good points via voter division, for which the delimitation proposal was put out in haste.
Nevertheless, CEC Kumar in his go to to Assam had clarified that the processes for delimitation and NRC are “two completely different features” and there was no “authorized bar” on carrying them out individually or concurrently.
EC to go to Assam for public listening to
Options and objections to the draft proposal are open for submission till July 11, after which the Election Fee will conduct a public listening to in Assam. In a March go to to the state, the CEC and different EC officers had gathered inputs from stakeholders.
Opposition events had then raised considerations about using 2001 Census knowledge as a substitute of the newer 2011 Census data, the authority of the EC in conducting the delimitation as a substitute of the Delimitation Fee, and the timing of the train shortly earlier than the 2024 parliamentary elections, on condition that the delimitation of constituencies for the whole nation is scheduled for 2026.
In its assertion this week, the EC famous that it had obtained and regarded “representations from 11 political events and 71 different organisations”.
Among the many recommendations from political events and organisations listed within the EC press assertion was the necessity for the Fee to “significantly look into the inhabitants sample in Decrease Assam”.
“Contemplating the demographic change in Higher Assam, seats in Higher Assam shouldn’t be decreased as those that are following the Nationwide Start Coverage shouldn’t undergo,” reads one of many recommendations that the EC workforce took into consideration.
(Edited by Asavari Singh)
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