'State Govt Can't Say When Process Will Be Completed': Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma On Delimitation Process

Sarma said the opposition can approach the Election Commission (EC) about the details regarding the completion of the delimitation process, when the officials visit the state next week.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday the government has no information available with respect to the completion of the process of delimitation of constituencies in the state. While speaking in the state assembly, he said the opposition can approach the Election Commission (EC) about the details regarding the completion of the delimitation process, when the officials visit the state next week.

Congress MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed had asked the Chief Minister when will the process be over.

In reply to Ahmed’s questions, Sarma said, “The state government cannot say when the process will be completed as we are not directly or indirectly involved. EC is a central agency. Our work is only to provide the data,” as quoted by news agency PTI.

"The full bench of the EC is coming here, and they will hold discussions with political parties and other stakeholders. I request all to place before them any misgivings and get the matters clarified," Sarma further said.

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He also clarified that the delimitation exercise was not stalled in the state because of the updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) earlier.

Earlier, the Congress government had written to the delimitation commission saying that the law order situation was not favourable back then in order to go ahead with the process. However, Congress asked Sarma if the process can be completed now.

Sarma said, "When we were asked if it can be done now, we said the situation is improved,” reported PTI.

He further said that a separate delimitation exercise may take place later if the base year for the process is changed for the entire country.

However, Sarma asked the lawmakers to keep working for all the regions in the respective constituencies without making speculations regarding the elimination and delimitation process of any localities.

Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha in a supplementary question asked what was the reason for the hurry with respect to changing the number of districts in the state right after the notification issued by the EC.

While replying to him, Sarma said the EC issued the notification on December 27, and it came into effect on January 1 this year.

He said, as quoted by PTI, “This period was provided so that the government can make changes in the boundaries for meeting administrative exigencies.”