By Ashis Biswas
In Assam, an intriguing political situation prevails after the announcement of new draft proposals for the long awaited delimitation of state Assembly/Parliamentary constituencies : Apparently, even major sections of majority Assamese people ( whose mother tongue is Assamiya ) are upset about some provisions in the controversial official draft circulated by the state Election Commission.
In particular, leaders and followers of the Asam Gana Parishad(AGP) , a powerful regional party representing Assamiya ethnic/cultural aspirations, feel marginalised by the recent moves of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP).
Ironically, both parties have been in power since 2021 , ruling the state in coalition, with the BJP as the major partner.
Senior AGP leaders including incumbent Ministers known for their major roles in the popular Assam Agitation , fear that some constituencies where they have a following will cease to exist if the new proposals are given effect. While the draft declares that the overall number of 126 Assembly seats will not change, new constituencies will emerge in the place of some existing seats.
However, even a cursory analysis of the proposed changes, the opposition parties led by Congress insist, indicate that the new alignments of future assembly/parliamentary seats would tend to consolidate as well as expand the areas of BJP’s influence , at the cost of the AGP !
Leaders of almost all Assam opposition parties have expressed their wonder as to how the SEC, a strictly neutral autonomous authority by Constitution-defined, came up with such a blatantly partisan draft proposal obviously favouring the present ruling party in Assam and Delhi !
AGP leaders have told the media that in the name of protecting native Assamiya interests and identity, as frequently claimed by state Chief Minister and BJP leader Mr Himanta Biswa Sarma, the bigger national party apparently seeks to marginalise, if not altogether eliminate, the smaller regional outfit AGP! This is the fear among AGP leaders including senior Ministers like MrAtul Bora
If recent media reports in the Assam-based press about the present disquiet within the AGP are any indication, it can be said that Mr Sarma has succeeded in dividing and confusing even native Assamiyas over issues related with their political future and identity .As for several other major ethnic and religious groups, most have already protested about the draft proposals. Some have launched agitations in the Barak valley and adjacent areas.
A brief list of groups opposing the draft include Barak Democratic Front, Ahom Community groups and tea plantation workers, Tai Ahom students, Assamiya Yuba Mancha , Nagarik Adhikar Raksha Samannay Committee, etc. Spokesmen of these groups allege that in the guise of carrying out delimitation, the state/central Governments have presented their blatantly aggressive, politically divisive agenda!
Congress leader Debabrata Saikia, as well as Mr Badruddin Ajmal MP and leader of Al India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) have strongly condemned the SEC’s proposals. Mr. Ajmal accused the body of being anti-Muslim .He warned that unless the sentiments and aspirations of targeted ethnic groups and communities were honoured, his party would seek legal redress urgently.
Chief Minister Sarma, however, has dismissed most protests from opposition circles by reiterating his intention to protect the interests and cultural/political dominance of the Assamiyas.
The present reaction among pro-AGP circles, which has been somewhat delayed in reaching the public domain, , is bound to raise serious question marks about the success of MrSarma’s functioning style, often described as ‘bulldozing’ by his critics/opponents.
According to observers, no matter what Mr Sarma may say, the situation arising from strong protests from various ethnic groups and communities against the new set of proposals– – involving both Hindus and Muslims in the large Bengali community, as well as smaller groups— is bound to get more complicated, if the mainstream Assamese people too are not happy about the changes proposed.
Ironically, these developments have come in the backdrop of local authorities led by the SEC convening an official hearing of the protests received so far. It has been done to assuage public anger expressed through sharp political reactions across the board to the delimitation draft, as a damage limiting exercise.
While most groups representing major groups in the highly diverse varied political spectrum of Assam are attending, hearing , the time allotted for the hearing is hardly adequate for prolonged discussions and debates—- even if deep-rooted political issued relating to the settlement and interests of various communities/groups figure in the face-off !
One example: The Barak Democratic Front has referred to 350 specific complaints and amendments to the draft proposals. Similarly, other groups/organisations too have presented a comprehensive list of their grievances, complaints and suggestions. The official response was not encouraging: Assam-based media reports suggested that the BDF was not even invited at first, and later was allotted only two hours to present its case! The fate of other organisations, too, was hardly any better.
This has naturally confirmed existing apprehensions among opposition circles that the ruling BJP at the centre and in the state are about to steamroll the execution of its allegedly pro-Hindutva political agenda , its party aim being to sideline effectively all political opposition, present or potential.
Much would depend on how the SEC and other authorities handle the across-the-board objections filed against the new delimitation proposals and demands made by the numerous ethnic groups and major opposition parties. Given the evidence of the BJP’s style of ‘governance’ in Assam not much can be expected.(IPA Service)
