Guwahati, July 19/–/ The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday began its three-day public hearings on the delimitation proposal for Assam.
The Commission, comprising Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel, are hearing representatives from political parties, civil society organisations and other sections of society till Friday.
After the proposal was published through a notification, dated June 20, 2023, suggestions and objections were invited till July 11, 2023. Over 750 representations were received during the three-week period.
It may be noted that the public hearings are part of the consultative exercise by the Commission during the process of delimitation.
On Wednesday afternoon, the ECI panel heard suggestions/objections from representatives of nine districts comprising Kamrup (Metro),West Karbi Anglong, Chirang, Baksa, Dima Hasao, Kamrup, Kokrajhar, Udalguri and Karbi Anglong. Over 270 representations were received from the representatives.
On Thursday morning, the apex poll panel members will hear representatives from 13 districts comprising Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Sonitpur, Karimganj, Darrang, Hailakandi and Cachar, South Salmara, Nagaon, Morigaon and Dhubri districts. Over 400 representations were received from the districts.
On Thursday afternoon, the ECI panel will interact with members of national and state political parties with six representations received from the parties.
On the concluding day of the public sittings, representatives from nine districts comprising Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Golaghat and Majuli will be heard. Over 70 representations have been received from the districts.
Notably, the ECI delimitation proposal seeks to retain the number of Lok Sabha seats at 14 and the number of Assembly seats at 126.
The Scheduled Tribes are proposed to be allocated 19 seats out of 126 seats in the state Assembly, and two of the 14 Lok Sabha seats. The Scheduled Caste population is proposed to be allocated nine seats in the Assembly and one seat in the Lok Sabha.
It may be recalled that the Commission had visited Guwahati in March this year before the delimitation exercise began. During the consultations at that time, representations were received from 11 political parties and 71 organisations.
The previous delimitation exercise in Assam was carried out way back in 1976.