The delimitation exercise in Assam has not only redrawn the boundaries of the constituencies but also political fault lines of the state. Hailed by a section as a step to safeguard the rights of indigenous communities and critiqued by another for ensuring skewed representation, the act may have multipronged impact on the state politics ahead of elections.
In the Name of the Nation: India and Its Northeast by Sanjib Baruah, New Delhi: Navayana Publishing (by arrangement with Stanford Univ Press), 2021; pp xiii + 278, `599.
Hyper-populism riding on welfare schemes along with a polarised campaign on religious lines paved the way for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance’s return to power in Assam. As the new government resumes office, it remains to be seen if it will continue its emphasis on polarising issues such as reverification of National Register of Citizens and ban or focus on larger issues like the Covid-19 pandemic, flood and erosion that continue to hamper the state’s development.
In the 2019 election, Assam will see a direct fight between the Congress and the Asom Gana Parishad–Bharatiya Janata Party alliance in almost all its constituencies. This election witnessed realignments and alleged adjustments amongst the key political players. It also saw new entrants like the National People’s Party. Every constituency will respond to these varied factors. The outcome of Assam’s 14 constituencies is crucial as it will decide which way the region swings.
