Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday asserted that there was no problem in the delimitation exercise of constituencies in the state, the draft proposal for which was published last week.
He maintained that opposition to the draft proposal came only from those who don't understand the process or are staring at electoral defeat.
"We are a secular nation where constituencies are determined by keeping everyone's well-being in mind. Reservation is done based on population figure of a specific community," he said, talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme here.
He said "there has been no problem" with the exercise of redrawing assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam.
"Only certain people who are staring at imminent electoral defeat are making noise against it," Mr Sarma asserted.
Refuting claims that communities such as Rabhas, Morans, Mottocks and Ahoms are unhappy with the draft, the Chief Minister said, "They all are rejoicing, in fact. I had been to Lakhimpur and Dhemaji (with sizeable tribal population) and I didn't hear anything. I am the chief minister, I would have heard had there been anything." He also pointed out that delimitation is done on the basis of population, and those opposing the draft have "no knowledge of the law or Constitution".
In the draft delimitation document released on June 20, the Election Commission has proposed to retain the number of assembly seats in Assam at 126 and the Lok Sabha constituencies at 14.
The commission has also planned to alter the geographical boundaries of most of the constituencies, both assembly and the Lok Sabha, while eliminating some seats and creating a few new ones.
This led to protests in the state by opposition parties as well as allies of the ruling BJP-led coalition government.
Terming the draft delimitation proposal an attempt by the BJP to polarise voters on religious lines disregarding the sentiment of people, opposition parties have decided to present the "grievances" of citizens before the EC.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
"Reforms Focus Not For Editorials, But To Make Country Strong": PM's I-Day Speech
"Withdrawn Now": Himanta Sarma On Assam Hospital's 'Regressive' Advisory Assam To Create New Posts Of Graduate Teacher In Schools: Himanta Sarma Mizoram, Assam Agree To Continue To Maintain Peace Along Inter-State Border Mob Vandalised Kolkata Doctor Rape Murder Case Crime Scene? Cops Respond 2 French Rafale Jets Collide Mid-Air, Instructor, Pilot Missing Mahindra Thar Roxx's Bookings Start From Oct 3, Deliveries By Dussehra NEET PG 2024 Results To Be Out Soon, Check Details Indian Gaming Products Should Make Mark Worldwide: PM Modi Ayatollah Khamenei Warns Of "Divine Wrath" If Iran Backs Down Against Israel Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.