As in neighbouring West Bengal, the major complaint of the combined opposition against the Commission (EC) is that it has acted hand in glove with the ruling party — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in Assam.

The Trinamool Congress(TMC) in Assam has sided with opposition parties like Congress, CPI(M), AIUDF and others, in strongly attacking the role played by the EC following the publication of the new delimitation proposals in their draft form, prior to the 2024 Parliamentary elections. Following a thorough debate among the political parties, the proposals are scheduled to be given effect, with amendments if necessary only in 2026.

Delimitation exercises, involving changes/upgradation in the existing arrangements of constituencies in terms of their area, population and other factors, are part of a normal legislative process. The objective is to ensure that the main features and the essential character of each newly defined constituency broadly reflects the natural and other changes that may have taken place during the past decades/years.

The timing behind the apparently premature publicity given to the draft proposal in Assam suggests that the BJP is keen to ensure a sizable Lok Sabha majority in the next round of polls. As for the Assembly elections, Assam will go to the polls only in 2026, not immediately.

Further, certain issues relating to delimitations of constituencies are currently being debated and heard in the Supreme Court. A final hearing is scheduled for July end. Naturally opposition parties in Assam have asked the BJP to explain why such issues are being raised now.

Mainstream media in Assam have been reporting a few details outlined in the draft proposals. According to one report, even for Assembly constituencies, arbitrary rules have been introduced, according to which the total number of voters in a constituency in the state can vary from 100,000 to 400,000! Villages and suburban clusters have been arbitrarily divided, leaving one part within one constituency and the rest with another.

Normally before such material alterations are officially proposed for assembly/LS constituencies, much attention is paid to changing existing road alignments, in dealing with water bodies, river traffic systems and so on. Most parties complain that some changes have been proposed without much concern for the negative consequences that concerned voters in certain constituencies would inevitably face.

But the most serious allegation made almost unanimously by most opposition parties is that the proposed changes have been suggested with a definite political objective. The BJP seeks to alter the nature and alignments of existing constituencies, so as (a) to reduce the numbers of Muslim voters in some areas and conversely (b) to help in the consolidation of non- Muslim voters in some pockets in the minority-dominated areas.

Such moves, opposition parties allege, hardly support the BJP’s claim that the proposed delimitation with which the EC has concurred seeks only to protect the interests of the indigenous communities. They also question the basis of the EC choosing 2001 census figures for Assam while dealing with population. Present population patterns in 2023 have changed substantially in most districts in Assam.

The BJP’s broad idea is seemingly to reduce the importance of the Muslim vote, which is considered to be a decisive factor in at least 35% of the 126 Assembly seats in Assam. It is close to 50% in almost 60 seats, according to a Congress spokesman. BJP hardliners have campaigned hard and long against what they allege to be illegal infiltration from neighbouring Muslim Bangladesh, as the main reason for such voting patterns.

The illegal migration of foreigners has been aided and supported by Congress, Left forces and the AIUDF for building up their loyal vote banks, allege BJP leaders in their campaign to polarize the majority Hindu vote. Within the last decade, the number of Muslim-majority districts in Assam, it is further claimed, has risen from 4 to 7.

Such views have been strongly countered by Congress leader Mr Bhupen Bora, Mr Ripun Bora (TMC) and CPI(M) Secretary Mr S. Talukdar. These claims have been made by the state BJP unit led by chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with the sole objective of keeping the state population divided over religious issues and ethnic divisions.

The minorities have been targeted for systematic attacks on their basic rights whether through the controversial NRC exercise to prove citizenship, or for officially aided attacks on the Madrasas and private properties run and owned by Muslims. AIUDF leader Mr Badruddin Ajmal MP has objected to the delimitation proposals, for which he holds the EC also accountable and promised legal action.

All opposition parties have found common ground in claiming that in addition to doing its habitually divisive politics, the state BJP will support the new proposals to divert peoples’ attention from the failures of its own rule in Assam in education and economy.

Mr Sarma has strongly countered the opposition charges and accused opposition parties of being ‘opposed to Assamiya interests.’ (IPA Service)