Washington, 4 August (H.S.): Democratic lawmakers in Texas have abandoned the state to obstruct a vote on a proposed congressional redistricting plan that would benefit Republicans. The plan, which introduces five new Republican-leaning seats in the US House, was presented by the state's Republican majority and has the support of former President Donald Trump.

To conduct a vote, two-thirds of the 150-member Texas legislature must be present, and with 51 Democratic legislators leaving for Illinois, Republicans lack the necessary quorum. They intend to remain absent for two weeks, coinciding with a special legislative session called by Republican Governor Greg Abbott, which aims to finalize the redistricting alongside disaster relief for recent floods and THC restrictions.

Each absent lawmaker faces a daily fine of $500, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has threatened legal repercussions, advocating for their arrest. He publicly asserted that those fleeing their legislative duties should be pursued and returned. Texas Democrats defended their actions, framing it as a stand against a flawed system that ignores their constituents.

While Democrats across the nation have considered retaliatory measures, their strategies may be limited since in states where they control redistricting, such as Illinois and Nevada, they have similarly engaged in gerrymandering. The Illinois map was notably rated poorly for fairness. In contrast, some Democratic-led states, like New York and California, utilize independent commissions for redistricting, bypassing partisan influence.

Currently, Texas Republicans hold 25 of 38 congressional seats and aim to increase this to 30 with the new map, particularly in areas won by Trump in the last election. The proposed redistricting would modify districts in the Rio Grande Valley and merge Democratic-held districts in Austin, while expanding a district held by a Democratic representative to cover more rural, Republican areas.

Historically, this evasion tactic has been exercised by Texas Democrats to block Republican agendas on prior occasions, underscoring the ongoing partisan conflict regarding redistricting and legislative authority. Redistricting generally occurs every decade following the US Census, and mid-decade changes are uncommon.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar