Former Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Titosstarwell Chyne said that the delimitation committee to examine on the demand to reorganise the boundary of some constituencies can have two connotations.
“One is in anticipation that there may be an amendment to the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution by the Parliament, which has proposed to increase the number of seats in the three district councils and another, even if the amendment does not take place, this committee will reorganize the constituencies so as to balance out the number of voters in each constituency,” Chyne told reporters.
According to him as of now some constituencies have more that 50,000 voters while others have 20,000. Chyne said that the committee’s job will be to rationalize the number of voters in each constituency.
He said that the KHADC once in 2014 has gone through this process wherein the Umsning constituency was created and Laitkroh constituency was done away with.
The leader of opposition also said that he will soon write to the EC of the KHADC to mention a time-frame for completion of the delimitation process which currently does not have one so that the stakeholders can submit their suggestions on time.
“According to me, reorganizing of constituencies should be completed within one or two months,” he added.
On a question if the delimitation process would delay the date of MDC elections slated for next year, Chyne disagreed stating that reorganising of constituencies does not mean that the tenure of the current house would be extended.
The chairman of the delimitation committee is former KHADC judge Dr. Stralwell Kharsyiemlieh. The members include former MLA Dr. S Loniak Marbaniang, NEHU teacher Prof D Rockyer L. Nonglait and former school teacher R Myrboh.
Former KHADC Secretary Monsoon Kharkrang was appointed as the member secretary of the committee.
As per the terms of reference, the delimitation committee will conduct public hearings at designated places to collect the views and opinions of the people of the constituencies.
Further, the committee will also place the proposed delimitation bill in public domain so as to enable people to submit their representations, views and comments. No deadline was fixed for completion of the task and submission of its report.
