Assams Gerrymandering Reduces Muslim Representation Before Election

Assam’s Election Boundaries Redrawn, Impact on Muslim Voters Uncertain

The Election Commission of India has redrawn the boundaries of parliamentary and state legislature constituencies in Assam, resulting in a significant shift in the electoral math. The constituency of Katigorah, which previously had an equal split between Hindus and Muslims, is now predominantly Hindu-majority.

As a result, major parties have chosen Hindu candidates for Katigorah, making it unlikely for Muslim candidates to win. This trend is not unique to Katigorah, as borders have been redrawn across the state’s 126 legislative constituencies in a way that could potentially marginalize Assam’s 11 million Muslims.

The changes were made following a 2023 order from the Election Commission of India. The constituency’s population was previously around 1.74 million, but about 40,000 Hindu voters from neighboring constituencies have been merged with Katigorah, reducing its Muslim voter base.

Activists and former legislators are expressing concerns that these changes could further marginalize Muslims in Assam. Khalil Uddin Mazumder, a former legislator from the Congress party, stated that the chances of electing a Muslim candidate from Katigorah have suffered significantly due to the redrawn boundaries.

The impact of these changes on the upcoming election is uncertain, with some analysts warning that they could be part of a broader strategy by the ruling BJP to implement Hindu majoritarian policies. Yogendra Yadav, a prominent poll analyst, described the Assam model of delimitation as “communal gerrymandering”, likening it to 18th-century United States racial gerrymandering.

The changes have been met with concern from Muslim voters and activists, who are urging them to cast their votes. The election is scheduled for April 9, and the outcome will be closely watched to see how these changes affect the state’s politics.

Source: Al Jazeera