Call for Delimitation Delay Amid Census Discrepancies in Manipur

Representatives from 13 political parties in Manipur requested the Centre to delay the delimitation exercise until corrections are made to the 2001 Census. Despite a Supreme Court mandate, parties agreed to defer action till 2026, citing regional violence and incomplete NRC implementation as key concerns.

In a crucial meeting held in Imphal, representatives from 13 political parties unanimously called upon the central government to postpone the impending delimitation exercise. The coalition resolved that the exercise should be deferred until the discrepancies in the 2001 Census are thoroughly addressed.

Notably absent from the discussion were the BJP and Congress, highlighting a division in political alignment over this contentious issue. However, parties including NPP, JD(U), and CPI(M) attended, agreeing to advocate for a delay until 2026, when a new national delimitation is anticipated following the upcoming Census.

The demand for deferment comes amid ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, rendering the region unstable for such an exercise. The Supreme Court had mandated the delimitation for three northeastern states, citing the need to rectify a long-standing inequality in electoral representation.

(With inputs from agencies.)