Barak Valley demanded Assembly seats should be restored to 15 : EC

way2barak, July 22: Several representations from Barak Valley demanded that Assembly seats in the valley should be restored from 13 to 15. A few representations from Barak Valley welcomed de-reserving the Parliamentary Constituency of Karimganj.

The Election Commission of India mentioned the above in their press release issued on Draft Delimitation Proposal. The Commission held public hearings on it from July 19-21, 2023 at Guwahati. The Commission comprising Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel held hearings from representatives of political parties, civil society organisations and members of public on the draft Delimitation proposal during the last three days. The public hearings are part of the consultative exercise by the Commission during the process of delimitation.

While welcoming the draft proposal, many organizations requested for change of nomenclature of some Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies, highlighting the historical, cultural, political, and ethnic significance of the region such as Narsingpur AC to Dholai, Gobardhan AC to Manas, Darrang PC to Darrang-Udalguri, Batadraba AC to Dhing, Badarpur AC to Karimganj North, North Karimganj AC to Karimganj South, South Karimganj AC to Patharkandi, Ratabari AC to Ramkrishna Nagar, Moran AC to Khowang, Dima Hasao AC to Haflong, Hajo AC to HajoSualkachi, Bhowanipur AC to Bhabanipur-Sorbhog, Chabua AC to ChabuaLahowal and Algapur AC to Algapur-Katlichera.

EC informed that few organizations from the lower Assam, central Assam and Barak Valley districts also requested for maintaining the compactness, contiguity of the constituencies and keeping intact the administrative units as far as possible. Based on these parameters, they suggested for shifting of few villages/panchayats from one constituency to another. The maximum number of representations were of the nature of requesting shifting of one or two villages/panchayats from one constituency to another constituency.

In many cases where the representations brought to the notice of the Commission, some issues related to natural barriers like rivers, etc., the Commission gave on-the-spot directions to the respective District Magistrates seeking factual details with proper maps, so that a considerate view can be taken on the issues raised.

During the last three days, the Commission heard over 1200 representations from 31 districts and held meetings with over 20 political parties. In total, more than 6000 persons participated in the public hearings over the last three days. In marathon seatings, on July 20, hearings lasted more than 20 hours, cumulatively, as the three Commissioners conducted parallel hearings at 3 venues. Similar was for July 19 and July 21. The screening of the gist of the 1000 odd representations received prior to the sittings, facilitated an on-the-spot confirmation of vital facts and identity of the stakeholder participation in this important exercise.Representatives from National Parties – Aam Aadmi Party, Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Bhartiya Janata Party; State Parties – All India United Democratic Front, Asom Gana Parishad, United Peoples Party Liberal and Bodoland People’s Front shared their feedback and suggestions before the Commission.

United Opposition Forum Assam (Assam Pradesh Congress, Assam Jatiya Parishad, CPM, Raijor Dal, CPI, Jatiya Dal Assam, NCP, RJD, Janata Dal (U), TMC, CPI(ML) & Others) and several Registered Unrecognized Political Parties (RUPPs) also participated.
During the public meetings held in last three days, the Commission patiently heard all the representations from different sections of society and organizations and assured due consideration of all the representations within the constitutional and statutory provisions.