Delimitation Commission to visit JK soon

 

Ishtiyaq Ahmad

Srinagar, Sep 14: A first visit of the Delimitation Commission to Jammu and Kashmir Union is to take place soon to set the ball rolling for the much awaited exercise so that polls can be held in Union Territory.

The Delimitation Commission was set up to ‘redraw’ J&K’s assembly constituencies.

Sources said the commission has completed data collection and is now preparing a framework to carve out assembly constituencies.

They said after completing its report, the commission will visit J&K to seek views of political parties and people (on it).

Sources said the first visit of the commission will discuss how to ensure equal distribution of assembly seats among the two regions.

As per the reorganisation act of J&K 2019, Ladakh UT will have no Assembly while J&K UT will have an Assembly after elections but prior to elections delimitation exercise was a must.

National Conference’s three MPs who were nominated as the members of the delimitation commission, had dragged their feet and decided to stay away from the exercise on the pretext that taking part in the process will amount to accepting all developments that unfolded post August 5 last year.

Sources said it will be interesting to see if the Government of India in consultation with the Election Commission of India will add more members for the commission to make it vibrant and transparent.

On March 7, Government of India announced a delimitation commission for J&K, Assam, Aurunachal Pradesh and Manipur. From BJP MoS in Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendera Singh and MP Jugal Kishore were announced as members while as from NC Dr Farooq Abdullah, Muhammad Akbar Lone and Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi were also nominated as members.

Top BJP leaders that include party’s J&K Affairs Incharge and national vice president Avinash Rai Khanna and BJP General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul said they would like the delimitation commission to keep the population, topography, geography and area in mind while making recommendations. “Our motive is to end regional balance,” they had said. (KINS)

 

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