GUWAHATI: The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has taken a firm stance against the delimitation exercise in Assam, filing a case in the Supreme Court to challenge the Election Commission's (EC) delimitation power. Aminul Islam, the general secretary and MLA of AIUDF, addressed the media in Guwahati to announce the move.
According to Islam, the amendments have granted the EC the authority to establish its own guidelines for conducting delimitation without any accountability. This has prompted the AIUDF to question the need for the EC's involvement and propose that the delimitation commission should handle the exercise, as it had done previously. Islam further expressed concerns that the draft delimitation proposal has been tailored to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), aiming to secure victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls in Assam.
The recently published draft delimitation proposal has indicated that while the number of assembly and Lok Sabha seats in Assam will remain unchanged at 126 and 14 respectively, there will be alterations in the geographical boundaries of most constituencies for both assembly and Lok Sabha seats.
The AIUDF's objections are not unique, as several other opposition parties in Assam have also expressed their discontent with the delimitation process in the state. These collective concerns underline the perception of a bias favoring the ruling BJP.
By initiating legal action, the AIUDF hopes to shed light on what it considers a lack of transparency and accountability in the delimitation exercise. The party believes that the EC's newfound authority allows it to manipulate the process to suit the ruling party's interests. The AIUDF's decision to approach the Supreme Court stems from its conviction that the apex court can impartially address the matter and safeguard the democratic principles of fairness and equal representation.
The AIUDF's argument gains traction from the fact that a nationwide delimitation exercise is scheduled for 2026. Hence, the party questions the urgency and necessity of conducting a separate delimitation exercise in Assam before the national exercise takes place.
As the case progresses, it remains to be seen how the Supreme Court will evaluate the allegations made by the AIUDF and other opposition parties in Assam. The outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications for the delimitation exercise in Assam, as well as its potential impact on future elections in the state.
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