Delimitation: Manipur CM in Delhi to push for new census

Cutting across party lines, senior politicians from the state, including Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, are camping in the national capital with a memorandum for the Centre on the proposed delimitation exercise in the state.

Cutting across party lines, senior politicians from the state, including Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, are camping in the national capital with a memorandum for the Centre on the proposed delimitation exercise in the state. Last week, the Manipur Legislative Assembly had adopted a resolution to seek a stay on the delimitation process and opt for a fresh census.

Trouble started when the 2001 Census figures for the Naga-dominated hill districts—particularly Senapati and Chandel—showed an “abnormal growth” in the population. The state Government and Valley-based politicians contested the figures. Now, if the Delimitation Commission of India is allowed to go ahead with its plans for Manipur, it could mean redrawing the district boundaries based on the 2001 Census figures. It is estimated that three Valley constituencies would have to be included in the hill districts. As of now, 40 Assembly Constituencies are in the Valley, and 20 under the Hill Tribal Council.

Last year, the Gauhati High Court had ordered a re-census of the areas where figures were found to be controversial, but a stay on the same by the Supreme Court had convinced the Delimitation Commission to plan on completing the exercise by September 30, 2007.

A major part of Manipur’s population—fixed at 23,88,634 as per the 2001 census—resides in the four districts of Imphal Valley and is dominated by the Meiteis, while around 40 per cent resides in the five hill districts. The 2001 Census report shows that between 1991 and 2001, the population of Senapati district witnessed a growth of 81.6 per cent while that of Chandel grew by 72.8 per cent. In comparison, the Valley districts all showed an increase of under 30 per cent.

The resolution contended that abnormal population growth rates in parts of Senapati, Chandel, Bishnupur Imphal West and Churachandpur was “highly irrational and unaccounted for”, and that the proposed delimitation of ACs based on this data would cause disruption in economic allocation as well as possible tension and chaos. The resolution also requested a “status quo” be maintained till fresh census was conducted and the results published. The initiative was taken by the Chief Minister himself, as he moved the resolution as leader of the House.