Caught in a dilemma over widespread opposition against the draft delimitation of constituencies, the delimitation committee of Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) has urged affected villagers to send their written objections to it before July 19 before 3 pm.
People from various villages from 16 constituencies in West Jaiñtia Hills district have raised strong objections to the draft delimitation proposals which readjusted the constituencies by removing or tagging villages. Many villages even threatened that if the delimitation was carried out as proposed, they would boycott the upcoming JHADC elections.
Residents of Nartiang have expressed their anger over the abolition of Nartiang constituency by tagging Dong Iawmulong in Nartiang with Moodop-Umladang constituency while other villages were tagged with Mynso-Nongjngi constituency.
During today’s public hearing conducted by the delimitation committee in Jowai, headman of Ummulong L Laloo opposed the creation of Ummulong-Mukhla constituency and demanded retention of Ummulong-Moodymmai constituency.
Kyndong Tuber headman S Siangshai said that his village was not happy with the delimitation proposal and said that if the committee went ahead with the proposal, the villagers would boycott the JHADC elections.
Even the villagers of Nongmulieh were opposed to the move to tag them with Wahiajer constituency and demanded to be retained with Nongjngi constituency.
Similarly, villagers of Madur said they would not accept the proposal to tag them with Amwi-Khliehtyrshi constituency.
Headman of Sanaro village, Rijoy Chen strongly raised his objection to the proposal to tag his village with Barato-Mukroh constituency and demanded that the village be tagged with Namdong.
Raliang headman Sanket Lamare wanted Mulum village to be added to the Raliang constituency.
Headman of Kyrluh village Thij Kanai objected to the tagging of his village with Raliang constituency and demanded it be tagged with Sumer constituency.
The villagers of Ladthadlaboh also said that they were opposed to the tagging of the village with two other constituencies of Jowai.
Headman of Mihmyntdu village Abul Phawa said his villagers wanted to remain with Sabahmuswang constituency.
Residents of Salaroh village said they were opposed to tagging their village with Jowai South constituency and demanded it be retained with Jowai North constituency.
Similarly, residents of Mustem said they would not accept the proposal to tag them with Jowai Central constituency and said they wanted to be retained with Jowai South constituency.
Mookyrdup villagers said they wanted to remain with Jowai North constituency and would oppose the move to tag them with Jowai Central constituency.
Moreover, villagers of Kyndongtuber today opposed the proposal to divide the village into two parts by tagging them with Wahiajer-Kyndong.
Most of the participants at the public hearing said that the delimitation proposal was flawed as it did not take into account distance, geographical contiguity and public convenience. They also said that the proposals were made without first consulting the villagers.
