The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to initiate the delimitation exercise of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Assam as per section 8A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, an official statement said. This was in pursuance to the request received from the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, the statement, released on Tuesday reads.
“The Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel has directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Assam to take up the matter with the state government to issue complete ban on creation of new administrative units w.e.f. January 1, 2023 till the completion of delimitation exercise in the State,” the statement says.
As mandated under Article 170 of the Constitution, census figures of 2001 will be used for the purpose of readjustment of parliamentary and assembly constituencies in the state. Reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will be provided as per Articles 330 and 332 of the Constitution of India, the poll panel says.
“The Commission will design and finalise its own guidelines and methodology for the purpose of delimiting the constituencies. During the delimitation exercise, the Commission will keep in mind the physical features, existing boundaries of administrative units, facility of communication, public convenience and as far as practicable, the constituencies will be kept as geographically compact areas,” reads the statement.