Delimitation of Nagaland constituencies: Commission suggests deferment

KOHIMA, Dec 1: Members of the Delimitation Commission of Nagaland have suggested that the proposed readjustment of constituencies boundaries be taken up only after the February Assembly polls as most of the intending candidates along with their supporters have already begun their compaign, reports PTI. Any efforts at delimitation now might create serious law and order problems in the state, the associate members said in their memorandum to the Commission. They along with members of the state cabinet felt that the Commission should take into consideration the tribal sensitivity and hill and backward areas, where the population was thinly spread and not treat them at par with cosmopolitan areas in the plains. The state, still under Innerline Regulation of 1873, should not be treated at par with Dimapur (plain area) where a large section of the population were allegedly Bangladeshi nationals, the associate members said. There were a number of defects in redrawing the boundaries of the constituencies, they said and urged that the proposals of inter-district adjustment be reviewed prior to holding discussions with the respective district administrations.

Meanwhile, opposition Nagaland People?s Front (NPF) in a statement on Saturday accused the Jamir government of creating ?turmoil? in the state by ?mishandling? the delimitation issue. ?Prima facie evidence have proved doubt that the Congress government in Nagaland is responsible for the mess it had created in the state for its selfishness,? alleged NPF spokesman and former power minister K Therie. NPF, which abstained from the recent all-party meeting called by Chief Minister S C Jamir to deliberate upon the issue, said although the Delimitaton Act was notified on June 4 and the Speaker appointed the associate members, the government had kept the people as well as other political parties in the dark about the draft proposals till the newspapers reported about the exercise. The issue had led to the surfacing of sharp difference of opinion among the electorate in the state, which is characterised by a complex demographic structure. Various tribal organisations and student bodies resorted to agitational courses in Mon, Tuensang and Mokochung districts where the electorate would lose two constituencies each as per the draft proposals. On the other hand, Naga Council, Dimapur and other NGOs observed bandh on Thursday protecting the Jamir cabinet?s stand on the delimitation proposal that Dimapur district be left out from the proposed exercise.