Collection of data and maps begins for Assam delimitation

The state currently has 14 Lok Sabha and 126 Assembly constituencies.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. (Express file)

Listen to this article

00:00

1x 1.5x 1.8x

A WEEK after the Election Commission (EC) announced that it would carry out delimitation of constituencies in Assam, the process of collection of statistical data and maps by the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) started Tuesday, sources said.

Read | What this exercise is, why it is important

The EC had on December 27, 2022, announced that it had been asked by the Union Law Ministry in November to carry out delimitation of constituencies in the state. The EC had also instructed the state government not to alter any administrative units with effect from January 1.

On the eve of the deadline, the Assam Cabinet decided to re-merge four districts into the districts they were carved out from in the recent past. The mergers will bring down the count of districts in Assam from 35 to 31. Assam currently has 14 Lok Sabha and 126 Assembly constituencies.

Also Read | Questions grow over ‘communal’ district changes by Sarma, skirting deadline

According to an official, the Assam CEO had been asked by the EC to submit the data and maps required for the redrawing of boundaries. The CEO had, in turn, asked district officials to submit the details. Another official said no date had been given to the CEO to submit the details.

The delimitation will be done on the basis of the 2001 Census, as mandated by Article 170 of the Constitution. The delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies in Assam was last conducted in 1976. While the last round of delimitation was done for the country starting in 2002, the exercise was suspended for Assam due to security concerns and demands that it should not be done till the National Register of Citizens was finalised.

In March 2020, the Centre notified a Delimitation Commission for Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland. A year later, the Centre extended the term of the Delimitation Commission by a year, but excluded the Northeastern states from its mandate.

In May last year, the Delimitation Commission finalised its order for Jammu and Kashmir, recommending seven additional constituencies — six for Jammu and one for Kashmir — taking the total number of seats in the Union Territory to 90 from 83 earlier.

Damini Nath

Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. Expertise Key Coverage Areas: Damini Nath currently specializes in reporting on two crucial beats: Housing and Urban Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis and reporting on India's urban development, policy, and housing issues. Election Commission (EC): Offering authoritative coverage of electoral processes, policies, and the functioning of India's constitutional body responsible for conducting elections. Professional Background: Her extensive experience includes roles as a reporter and sub-editor, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the journalistic process from fieldwork to final production. Previous Role: Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she served as a dedicated reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau, where her reporting portfolio included: Culture Social Justice Housing and Urban Affairs The Election Commission beat (a consistent area of focus). Trustworthiness Damini Nath's decade-plus career at two of India's most respected and authoritative news institutions, The Indian Express and The Hindu, underscores her commitment to factual, impartial, and high-quality reporting, establishing her as a trusted and credible source for news on urban governance and electoral matters. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram