Guwahati, July 14, 2023: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced its plans to conduct public hearings in Guwahati starting from July 19. These hearings aim to discuss the draft proposal on the delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies in Assam. The ECI has invited individuals and parties to provide their suggestions and objections during these hearings.

In a notification issued on June 20, the ECI had requested suggestions and objections to its proposal by July 11, 2023. Around 500 responses were received within the given timeframe, and they are currently under consideration by the Commission.

The public sittings will take place at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra International Auditorium in Panjabari. The schedule for the hearings is as follows:

Public sittings for districts including Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Udalguri, Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao will commence from 3 pm onwards on July 19.

Public sittings for districts including Dhubri, Goalpara, South Salmara, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Karimganj, Hailakandi, and Cachar are scheduled from 9:30 am to 12 pm. This will be followed by sittings for Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro), Nagaon, Sonitpur, Morigaon, and Darrang districts from 12 pm to 2 pm. An interaction with members of national and state recognized parties will take place from 3:30 pm onwards on July 20.

Public sittings for Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Charaideo, Golaghat, Majuli, and Tinsukia districts are set to take place from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm on July 21.

Participants who have submitted suggestions or objections and wish to present their views before the Commission are requested to attend the hearings as per the schedule for their respective districts during July 19 to 21.

It is worth noting that members from 11 opposition parties in Assam recently staged a sit-in protest in front of the ECI office in New Delhi. They expressed their opposition to the delimitation draft proposed for the state. The protesters voiced their concerns regarding the ECI’s refusal to meet the visiting party delegation from Assam. The Congress party, along with other parties such as Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad, Jatiya Dal, Trinamool Congress, NCP, CPI, CPI(M), CPI (M-L) Liberation, RJD, and JD(U), joined forces to oppose the delimitation draft.