EC set to start Assam's delimit exercise; 2001 census to be used

Election Commission has said that it has decided to start delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Assam. The poll panel said 2001 census figures would be used for the purpose.

EC said Assam's chief electoral officer has been directed to "take up the matter with the state government to issue a complete ban on the creation of new administrative units with effect from January 1, 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 constituencies... Reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will be provided as per Articles 330 and 332 of the Constitution," the poll panel said in a statement on Tuesday.


According to EC, the commission will design and finalise guidelines and methodology for delimiting constituencies. "Once a draft proposal...is finalised... it shall be published in the central and state gazettes for inviting suggestions/objections... A notice will also be published in two vernacular newspapers of the state specifying the date and venue for public sittings... The Election Commission of India has been requested by the Ministry of Law and Justice to conduct the delimitation... 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."