Draft delimitation: All Assam Tribal Sangha submits memo to Election Commission of India

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: A delegation of the All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) today submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi wherein they list their suggestions regarding the draft delimitation of parliamentary and legislative assembly constituencies in Assam and their demands. The delegation comprised AATS secretary general Aditya Khakhlari, AATS president Sukumar Basumatary and All Assam Tribal Youth League president Tilak Doley.

The AATS has urged the ECI to enhance the Scheduled Tribe (ST) (P) legislative assembly seats in Assam from 19 to 20, and to restore the 54 Morigaon LAC for ST. AATS secretary general Aditya Khakhlari said, “Not a single seat has been reserved for ST in the Central Assam region. The Morigaon LAC was reserved for ST till 1976, which was represented by ‘Lalung’ tribe. But, reservation was lifted in the last delimitation. The ‘Lalung’ tribe is the third largest ST group of Assam and the majority of the Lalung people are concentrated in the Morigaon district. There will be no representation of Lalung tribe in the State Assembly if Morigaon LAC is not reserved for ST. Some tribal-dominated areas like Gova Maouza, Uttar Khola Maouza and Ghagua Maouza of Morigaon have been included in Jagiroad LAC to keep Morigaon LAC open for a general candidate. We demand that Morigaon should be reserved for ST(P) again.”

The AATS said that the delimitation in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) was not carried out according to the provision of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Darrang Lok Sabha constituency has been created with Tamulpur, Bhergaon, Goreswar, Tangla, Majbat and Udalguri. But, Rangia, Kamalpur, Dalgaon, Mangaldoi and Sipajhar are outside the BTR. The AATS has demanded that the ECI should constitute another Lok Sabha constituency as Udalguri comprising the six assembly segments under BTR, and that the number of ST assembly seats in BTR should be increased.

According to the draft delimitation proposal, the 98 Majuli (ST) LAC has been proposed to be included in the 14 Jorhat HPC. Earlier, 98 Majuli (ST) LAC was with Lakhimpur HPC. AATS has demanded that the 98 Majuli (ST) LAC must remain with the 12 Lakhimpur HPC.

Khakhlari further said, “Dimoria is predominantly inhabited by Karbis, Boros, Lalungs, Rabhas and Garos. Unfortunately, the Karbis living in plain areas are not recognized as ST. But, there is a sizeable number of voters belonging to the Karbi community in the proposed 34 Dimoria (SC) LAC. If the Dimoria LAC is reserved for SC, the indigenous Karbis, Boros, Lalungs, Rabhas and Garos will face problems. Therefore, we urged upon the Commission to keep Dimoria LAC open for all.

“We suggested reserving 27 Chamaria LAC under SC category as the proposed Chamaria LAC is inhabited mostly by SC people. Also, the historic guardians of the cultural pride and dignity of the greater Assamese and indigenous communities of Assam, Barbishnu Atar Than Samaria Xatra, Dari Xatra, Malacha Xatra and Goroimari Xatra have been included in the proposed 27 Chamaria LAC.”

He added, “Twenty tribal populated villages of Subansiri and Barashamukh GP of 77 Dhakuakhana (ST) LAC and tribal populated villages of Ghunassuti GP, Pub Telahi GP of Lakhimpu LAC have been included in the proposed 75 Nowboicha (SC) LAC. The 75 Nowboicha (SC) LAC is geographically isolated from Dhakuakhana LAC and Lakhimpur LAC. We, therefore, appealed to the ECI to retain those areas with Dhakuakhana LAC and Lakhimpur LAC.”

The ECI accepted the memorandum submitted by the AATS delegation but refrained from commenting on the issue. Sources said that as the ECI will be visiting Assam later this month, they will invite the AATS to put forth their suggestions and objections to the draft delimitation proposal.

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