The recent delimitation exercise in Guwahati has left residents confused and disoriented as electoral boundaries have been redrawn
Residents of Guwahati find themselves in a state of confusion over the recent delimitation exercise. The redrawing of electoral boundaries to ensure equitable representation and balance in electoral constituencies has left many uncertain about their constituencies.
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"I have been voting in the same constituency for years, and now suddenly I find myself in a different one," laments Raktim Sharma, a long-time resident of Jyotikuchi.
Jyotikuchi was under Gauhati West Assembly constituency but is now under Dispur after the delimitation.
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The delimitation process in Assam, like in other parts of India, aims to redraw the boundaries of parliamentary and assembly constituencies based on population changes. As demographics shift and populations grow, it becomes imperative to re-adjust electoral boundaries to ensure fair representation.
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However, the execution of the delimitation exercise has left many voters feeling disconnected and disoriented. "I used to know my constituency like the back of my hand. Now, I feel lost. It's like being in a new city altogether," said Anjali Devi, a concerned voter.
Political parties have also been grappling with the ramifications of the constituency changes. With traditional voter bases potentially disrupted, parties are faced with the challenge of re-strategising their campaigns and outreach efforts.
The Election Commission of India (EC) on August 11, 2023, published the final delimitation order for Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies in Assam, retaining the number of seats at 126 and 14, respectively. The commission stated over 1,200 representations were considered before finalising the proposal and 45% of suggestions and objections have been addressed in the report. EC revised the names of 19 Assembly constituencies and one Parliamentary seat.
Earlier, 10 political parties from Assam filed a writ petition challenging the delimitation exercise in the Supreme Court. The Election Commission of India held public hearings on the draft delimitation proposal for Assam from July 19 to 21. A regional party, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the delimitation process. All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) had also filed a case in the SC against the draft delimitation proposal.
The last delimitation exercise in Assam was carried out in 1976. Under the provisions of the Delimitation Act, 1972, the last delimitation of constituencies in Assam was done on the basis of the 1971 census by the then Delimitation Commission.
After the completion of the delimitation exercise of Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly constituencies in Assam, the number of polling stations now stands at 28,645 as against 28,205 before, a rise of 440.
The rationalisation of polling stations was done in Assam on the instruction of the ECI as part of the post-delimitation exercise. The rationalisation of the polling stations was done by the district election officers, and the process was monitored by the Election Department of Assam.
At the conclusion of the rationalisation exercise, the Election Department of Assam submitted a proposal to the ECI for 28,645 polling stations. Accordingly, the ECI approved the proposal, and the number of polling stations in the state was increased to 28,645 across the state.
The highest number of polling stations in the state is in Mankachar Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC), with a total of 347 polling stations. On the other hand, the least number of polling stations is in Dotma LAC, with 142.
In the Kamrup (Metro) district, there are 5 LACs after the delimitation exercise of the ECI. Earlier, the number of LACs in this district was 4.
The number of polling stations in the 5 LACs of Kamrup (M) district has also changed and now stands at - Dispur LAC with 213 polling stations; Dimoria LAC with 225; New Guwahati LAC with 193; Guwahati Central LAC with 182; and Jalukbari LAC with 210 polling stations.
In the Kamrup district, the number of polling stations in different LACs is as follows: Chamaria LAC-246, Boko-Chhaygaon LAC-232, Palasbari LAC-262, Hajo-Sualkuchi LAC-224, Rangiya LAC-252, and Kamalpur LAC-224.
"The delimitation has thrown a curveball at us. We're scrambling to recalibrate our campaign strategies to reach out to voters in the new constituencies," admits Bikash Borah, a local party member.
The confusion among voters is compounded by the lack of clear communication and information regarding the delimitation process. Many residents feel that the authorities have not adequately informed them about the changes, leaving them in the dark about where they stand.
"It's frustrating not knowing which constituency I belong to now. The authorities should have been more transparent about the delimitation process and its implications," asserts Pronita Gohain of Baghorbari.
Efforts to alleviate the confusion include public awareness campaigns and outreach programmes organised by electoral authorities. However, for many voters, the information provided remains insufficient to fully comprehend the extent of the changes.
"The pamphlets and announcements don't really clarify things for me. I need more detailed information to understand how the delimitation affects me," explains Bidyut Bikash, a perplexed voter.
A senior official from the office of the District Commissioner talking to GPlus said, "During the time of the delimitation order, a map was chalked out which clearly mentions the changes which are available on the ECI website. For those who are still unable to figure it out, booth-level officers are assigned to collect the voter information slip. Till now 9000 forms have been collected. And they will further communicate with voters.”
Meanwhile, when GPlus tried to access the official website of the Kamrup Metropolitan District it was noticed that the detailed information regarding the maps of the 5 LACs is yet to be updated. This further intensifies the debate about crisp information.