TMC declares protests against district merger in Assam

Guwahati: The Assam TMC (Trinamool Congress) on Monday opposed the Assam government’s decision to merge four existing districts with four others, terming the move as “regressive”.

The Assam Cabinet met in New Delhi on Saturday and approved the merger of Biswanath district with Sonitpur district, Hojai district with Nagaon district, Bajalidistrict with Barpeta district and Tamupur district with Baksa district.
“There are occasions when we have to take certain steps keeping in mind the overall welfare of the people of the state for the better future of Assam and administrative needs,” CM Himanta Biswa Sarma justified the move after the cabinet meeting. gave national capital.

The approval was given just two days before the process of delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Assam. After the merger, the number of districts in Assam will be reduced to 31.
A notification in this regard was also issued even as Sarma said that the step taken was “temporary” and the government would reconsider the decision once the delimitation exercise was over.

The Chief Minister said that during this time judicial, police and administrative offices in the four districts will continue to function as usual.

Condemning the Assam government’s decision to abolish four relatively new districts, Assam Trinamool Congress president Ripun Bora termed the move as “serious and reactionary”.
The party cannot accept the reasons given by the Chief Minister to support the merger of the four districts. This is a cynical and regressive move that will take the state backwards. Constituency delimitation exercise, if required, can be done within the district,” Bora said.

“Furthermore, such interim delimitation of constituencies, which is not constitutionally mandated, is meaningless because after three years (in 2026), as mandated by the Constitution, nationwide delimitation will be implemented anyway. will be brought.” They said.
It may be noted that the Election Commission of India had started delimitation of 126 assembly and 14 parliamentary constituencies in Assam on December 27, 2022, under which the 2001 census data was used for re-allocation of seats. .

The Assam TMC leader further cited an earlier instance when parties currently in power had opposed delimitation of constituencies in 2007 when the Congress was in power.
“In 2007, parties like the AGP and the BJP, which are now in power, had opposed the delimitation exercise on the pretext that the state needed to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC). It is because there are factual contradictions in it. So is the NRC suddenly correct now?” Bora asked.
He pointed out that the Assam government had earlier approached the Supreme Court opposing the updated NRC. Additionally, the Supreme Court has allowed 1.9 million people excluded from the NRC to appeal. So how can there be a demarcation exercise now without addressing these issues,” Bora questioned.
The state party chief further announced protests from January 4, demanding withdrawal of the district merger move.

“District units of Assam TMC will hold protests starting with a sit-in in front of the Tamulpur Revenue Circle Office on January 4. Similar protests will be held in front of the Bajali Deputy Commissioner’s office on January 5, Deputy Hojai on January 6. It will be done in front of the Commissioner’s office. On January 7, Baswanath in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office,” Bora said.