Constituency Delimitation Process: AASU, AIUDF hail move; Congress frowns

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The AASU (All Assam Students' Union) and the AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front) welcomed the start of the constituency delimitation process in Assam and extended their suggestions. The move, however, got a cold shoulder from Congress.

The AASU said, "It is an opportunity to secure the future of the indigenous people of Assam. The delimitation exercise should be in the interest of the indigenous people."

AASU general secretary Sankar Jyoti Baruah said, "Constituency delimitation was a long-pending demand of the AASU. It has a direct bearing on Clause VI of the Assam Accord. The government should discuss the modalities of the constituency delimitation process with all stakeholders."

Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Debabrata Saikia said that the situation in Assam is not conducive for constituency delimitation for various reasons. He appealed to the Central Government to reconsider its decision.

Saikia said, "The reasons which stalled the constituency delimitation in 2007 persist even now. The NRC update is not yet complete. How can the government go for constituency delimitation without updating the NRC? If the government delimits the constituency without providing ST status to the six ethnic groups, it will be tantamount to depriving them. How can the census data from 20 years back serve the purpose of constituency delimitation? Won't it be a waste of the public exchequer? The purpose of delimitation is the 'nearly even distribution of voters in the constituencies'. The distribution of voters in the constituencies in the state is almost even now. Against such a backdrop, the government going for constituency delimitation is only for political mileage."

Welcoming the announcement by the Election Commission, AIUDF general secretary (political) Karimuddin Borbhuya said, "The delimitation should be such that people belonging to all castes and ethnicities can have representations. The delimitation should have taken the 2021 census report, not 2001. The process should be scientific."

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