Dimapur, May 24 (MExN): While various Naga tribal organisations give their standpoint with regard to the delimitation of assembly constituencies in Nagaland, the Delimitation Commission of India may finally go in for a population figures tribe wise for all districts as per the 2001 census.
A letter addressed to CJ Ponraj, the Chief Electoral Officer of Nagaland by the Delimitation Commission of India, signed by BC Shengh Under Secretary, directed Ponraj to look into the recommendation of the Delimitation Commission calling for population figures tribe-wise for all the districts for formation of Assembly Constituencies and for maintaining tribal compositeness and ethnic integrity.
In this regard, the under Secretary requested the CEO to collect and supply the population of tribe-wise figures to the Commission at the earliest.
“The Commission requests that the population figures tribe-wise for all the districts along with location of all such tribes in the various administrative units may be collected and supplied to the Commission on priority basis to enable the Commission to take further in the matter” stated the Under Secretary.
According to reliable information received by this daily, the Delimitation Commission is likely to finalize the complete list of the reorganized Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies in the country by September. This was reportedly made known by the Chief Election Commissioner, N. Gopalaswami. The Commission has reportedly completed public hearing on the delimitation of constituencies in 22 States so far.
Meanwhile, on being asked about the letter from the Delimitation Commission, Ponraj said that since the former is an independent body, it will present a draft proposal and will decide for itself on the future course of action. Besides that Ponraj declined to comment on the implications about the Commission or divulge further information with regard to delimitation saying that the issue is very sensitive.
However, State Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner TN Mannen, about the directive said that the Commission’s direction means that the assembly constituencies in the state will go according to tribal population and if it is implemented then the present ‘status quo’ which the government has been maintaining will have to undergo a change, unless the state gets a stay order from a High Court which Nagaland does not have. However, TN Mannen, as a matter-of-factly, said that nothing can stop delimitation and added that the delimitation exercise has to go on.
Mannen also cleared that he is a member of the national level Delimitation Commission and added that what ever delimitation that has to take place is up to the government of Nagaland.
On being asked about the consequences of the latest direction by the Delimitation Commission of India, Mannen realistically said that if tribe wise population figure is implemented, he said that the tribal equation, the equation of constituencies will have to change. However Mannen was not sure about the possible reaction of the people, and said that he cannot tell about it till the people react to it.
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