Election Commission of India to visit Assam for public hearing

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: After the Election Commission of India (ECI) published the draft proposal for delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Assam on June 20 based on the 2001 Census report, political parties and other stakeholders are thoroughly examining the draft proposal so that they can put forward their views and suggestions when the ECI visits Assam next month.

The ECI is slated to visit Assam in mid-July for a public hearing on the draft proposal. During the visit, the ECI will meet various stakeholders and hear their objections (if any) and suggestions on the draft proposal. Sources in the Election Department, Assam, said that the ECI has verbally informed the department that the proposed visit will take place on July 20. However, the details of the visit have not been specified and official communication in this regard has not been received by the department.

When the draft proposal for delimitation of constituencies was published on June 20, the ECI had mentioned that any objections or suggestions in this regard should reach the Secretary, Election Commission of India, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi on or before July 11. Sources in the Election Department, Assam said that if any stakeholder had any objection or suggestion on the draft proposal, they could submit the same to the department and the department will forward these objections or suggestions to the ECI. However, the objections or suggestions must be submitted on or before July 11.

Sources further said that as the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are approaching, if everything goes as per plan, the ECI intends to publish the final delimitation notification on or before August 15, 2023.

The draft delimitation proposal has made no change in the number of Assembly and parliamentary constituencies. The number of assembly constituencies reserved for SCs and STs has increased with 19 Assembly and two parliamentary seats reserved for STs and nine Assembly and one parliamentary seat reserved for SC candidates. The boundaries of the existing Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies have been realigned, giving new names to 26 Assembly constituencies. The draft proposal has been prepared based on administrative units, i.e., Development blocks, Panchayats (VCDC in BTAD), villages in rural areas, and Municipal boards and wards in urban areas.

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