A newly formed pressure group in Arunachal Pradesh has called for a major overhaul of political representation in the state, urging authorities to consider geography, security, and social factors during the delimitation process.
The Arunachal Delimitation Demand Committee (ADDC), led by former MP Takam Sanjoy, has submitted its proposals to the Centre, the Election Commission of India, and the Delimitation Commission of India. The committee has asked that delimitation in the state should not be based only on population, but must also take into account the region’s difficult terrain and its strategic importance along international borders.
In its submission, the committee said Arunachal Pradesh’s vast and remote areas make governance and representation challenging. It argued that constituencies should be designed in a way that reflects ground realities, including connectivity issues and security concerns, especially in border regions.
A key demand raised by the ADDC is the introduction of 33 per cent reservation for women in both Assembly and parliamentary seats as part of the delimitation process. The committee said this would improve participation of women in politics, particularly in tribal societies where representation has remained limited.
The group has also proposed a significant increase in the number of elected representatives. It has called for raising the strength of the state Legislative Assembly from 60 to 90 seats. In addition, it has demanded five Lok Sabha seats and two Rajya Sabha seats for Arunachal Pradesh, arguing that the current representation is not adequate for a state of its size and strategic importance.
The ADDC further suggested that the proposed parliamentary constituencies could be named after major rivers of the state—Kameng, Subansiri, Siang, Lohit, and Tirap. According to the committee, such naming would reflect the identity and diversity of the region and give symbolic recognition to its geographical features.
