Dimapur, March 13 (MExN): The Lotha Students Union extends support to the Lotha Hoho in demand for implementation of the Delimitation Act 2002 in Nagaland. In regard to the assertion of Nagaland Government to maintain status quo, the LSU says this would only perpetuate widespread disparity among the districts.
“The idea mooted by the state government in maintaining status quo in the ongoing nationwide delimitation process on the condition that state government would have to make certain readjustments in the assembly constituencies of its districts without transferring any areas of an assembly segment from one district to another, would only perpetuate prevalent social, economic and political disparity among the districts” the LSU in a statement appended by its president Nzanthung K Yanthan stated. Also, at the same time, it would be against the very spirit of the Parliamentary Act to balance “the imbalance of representation” created over the years among the districts, LSU stated.
While acknowledging the fact that districts in Nagaland were “created on tribal lines” and not by population, the LSU pointed out that the allotment of assembly seats to Wokha district since 1964 was purely on population basis. The 1972 delimitation exercise made Wokha and Phek districts lose a seat each through the population criteria, LSU stated. Therefore, the argument of the state government that the unique tribal set-up would be distorted if the delimitation is implemented is completely irrational, the organization stated.
“Notwithstanding the deep resentment and anguish caused due to the vacuum created in the district since 1972 delimitation exercise, the Lotha Students Union firmly believes that the delimitation Commission of India will be sincere in implementing the delimitation Act 2002 purely on population basis,” the LSU opined. However, in the event of minor readjustments as stated by the Nagaland commissioner – which would mean no delimitation at all – the LSU maintained that this is at best a deviation and non-compliance to the provision enshrined in the act. This would invite course of action from the organization, the LSU cautioned.
