New Delhi, Dec 27, 2022, By Special Correspondent

New Delhi, Dec 27: The Election Commission has initiated delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies in Assam and will rely on 2021 Census figures for the purpose of readjustment of constituencies in the state.

The move follows a request from Ministry of Law and Justice to initiate the delimitation exercise of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies in the State of Assam as per Section 8A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, an official release said here Tuesday.

Delimitation is the process of fixing limits or boundaries of the territorial constituencies in a country or a state with a legislative body.

The EC, 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 ensure complete ban on creation of new administrative units w.e.f. 1st January, 2023 till the completion of delimitation exercise in the state.

As mandated under Article 170 of the Constitution, census figures (2001) shall 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 & 332 of the Constitution of India, the release said.

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 area.

Once a draft proposal of delimitation of constituencies in the State of Assam is finalised by the Commission, it shall be published in the Central and State Gazettes for inviting suggestions/objections from the general public.

In this regard, a notice will also be published in two vernacular newspapers of the state specifying the date and venue for public sittings to be held in the state.

Under the provisions of Delimitation Act, 1972, the last delimitation of constituencies in the State of Assam was done on the basis of census figures, 1971, by the then Delimitation Commission in 1976.

The term of the current Assam Legislative Assembly will end on May 20, 2026. The state has 14 Lok Sabha, 126 assembly and seven Rajya Sabha seats.