Dimapur, April 2 (MExN): Japukong Senso Senden demands that the Delimitation Commission ‘undo’ all preceding delimitation draft proposals relating to Alongtaki 30th Assembly Constituency.
According to a release from the Senden’s president N Imti Ao, the present readjustment being drawn in the draft proposal will adversely affect the ‘closely-knitted social fabric’ of the people of Japukong and Tsurangkong. “Because the proposal is understood is understood to have been without considering the physical topography of the assembly segment” the Senden explained reminding the interest of the populace should be the guiding principle. “We are made to apprehend with the facts already stated that if the present draft proposal relating to the 30th Alongtaki Assembly Constituency is not rectified, the present exercise is nothing but a gerrymandering (the act of altering boundaries of an electoral constituency/segment so as to favor a particular political party) draft for the benefit of others and grievous disadvantage to the people of Japukopng and Tsurangkong” the Senden pointed out.
Territorially the segment is one of the biggest assembly segments in Nagaland and moreover, the area is politically as well as economically very important, the Senden explained. “The western part of this assembly segment is contiguous to Assam, hence politically very sensitive. Secondly, it can feed the greater parts of the districts of Mokokchung, Zunheboto and Tuensang. Towards this objective, it is imperative that the two ranges of Japukong and Tsurangkong remain intact in all respects-politically, administrative and economic” it stated.
The Senden also proposed a alternate Assembly segment to the commission’s working paper but supporting the new nomenclature of the commission only with the readjustment of the assembly and retaining existing segment under Longchem circle and Mangkolemba circle covering the whole Japukong range with Tsurangkong village under one contiguous area. This completes the minimum required population per assembly segment in the ten assembly constituencies in Mokokchung, it stated.
The population (2001 census) of the existing Alongtaki Assembly Constituency comes to 27, 856 which has more than 5000 population excess as per the district yardstick of total population of 2, 32, 200 (2001) divided by 10 is equal to 23, 200. Thus three villages from the existing constituency namely Imchemkimong, Molungkimong and Atuphumi be readjusted in the 29th Japetkong constituency on their own demand, the Senden added.
