Union Minister of State for Education and External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh on Thursday underscored the importance of maintaining complete transparency in the delimitation process of Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies in the state of Manipur to ensure free and fair decision and conclusion.
In a letter addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, RK Ranjan presented a few suggestions pertaining to the impending delimitation process, a release stated.
The minister urged that the delimitation process should be based on the latest census figures, all the while emphasising the need for a fair and unbiased approach without favouritism towards any specific community or ethnic group, it stated.
He also proposed the establishment of an additional unreserved Lok Sabha constituency, comprising the eight unreserved Assembly Constituencies currently falling within the Outer Manipur Lok sabha constituency which is a ST reserved constituency, it asserted. Anticipating a potential increase in Assembly seats from the existing 60 to 70, he also advocated a fair distribution/creation of reserved(SC/ST)and unreserved seats, it added.
In anticipation of these changes after lifting the moratorium in 2026, he insisted that the comprehensive delimitation exercise must be based on the latest census data, based on biometrics and also linked with Aadhaar for the sake of accuracy and authenticity, the release said.
The union minister expressed confidence that the proposed recommendations will contribute to a more equitable political representation in Manipur, aligning with the great democratic principles and values of Bharat, it added.
