Guwahati, April 19: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma responded to Congress’s criticism regarding the recent delimitation in the state. He accused the party of misleading the public and misusing the term “gerrymandering” to dismiss long-overdue electoral reforms.
In a post on the social media platform X, CM Sarma emphasized that the delimitation conducted in 2023 was not a conspiracy but a necessary process aimed at correcting decades of political imbalance.
He alleged that previous governments ignored significant demographic changes in various regions for electoral gains. Sarma stated that the real distortion in representation occurred in the past when the changing demographics were overlooked due to vote-bank politics. He added that the current exercise aims to align electoral constituencies with ground realities.
The delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Assam was carried out by the Election Commission of India based on the provisions of the Delimitation Act, using the 2001 census as a reference.
Completed in August 2023, this process redrew the boundaries of 126 assembly and 14 Lok Sabha constituencies, focusing on rationalizing population distribution, geographical continuity, and administrative convenience.
As a result, the reserved seats for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) were reorganized to more accurately reflect their population ratios. Several constituencies in minority-dominated areas saw boundary changes, leading to sharp reactions from various political parties.
CM Sarma stated that the purpose of the delimitation was to restore balance and ensure proper political representation for indigenous people. He described the current arrangement as a temporary measure to address concerns arising from illegal immigration and demographic changes.
Opposition parties, including Congress, have consistently criticized this move. The party claims it disproportionately affects certain communities and benefits the ruling party, labeling it an example of gerrymandering. The BJP has completely rejected these allegations.
Sarma remarked that those opposing the process feel uncomfortable because it disrupts a system that has historically favored them. He reiterated that this step reflects the aspirations of the people of Assam.
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