Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while commenting on the delimitation draft released by the Election Commission of India recently, asserted that its implementation would protect Assam and its indigenous people politically. Welcoming the draft, Sarma however expressed displeasure that a section of political elements has been cooking up a communal issue out of it. The State unit of Bhartiya Janata Party also welcomed the draft proposal stating that it would help safeguarding the interest of indigenous people.
Meanwhile, addressing the media in the city, State chief minister’s political secretary Pabitra Margherita also claimed that the draft would be a protective shield for the Assamese community. A member of Rajya Sabha, Margherita also stated that it championed the aspiration of residents from both the valleys (Barak & Brahmaputra) and catered the need for political domination by the Bodos, Karbis along with other ethnic groups of the State.
“The draft leads to an increase of ST reserved legislative assembly seats to 19 (previously 16) and SC reserved seats to 9 (presently 8) apart from the increase in seats for Karbi Anglong to 5 (previously 4) and for BTR to 15 (currently 12),” said Margherita. He also added that it proposes to induct Ranganadi and Sisiborgaon constituencies in Dhemaji and Lakhimpur district respectively with an aim to ensure political representation for the Ahoms, Chutiyas along with general communities in eastern Assam.
Similarly, induction of another constituency in Tinsukia district is expected to assure political rights to the Moran-Motok communities. Margherita also stated that the proposal to declare Goalpara as an SC reserved seat would unleash scopes for the indigenous people to get a great relief out of their prolonged socio-political & demographic aggression. The draft ensures the political domination of local and indigenous people in 90 to 100 assembly seats, asserted the Parliamentarian.
Delimitation draft to protect Assam’
