Flags ‘bias’ in past delimitation
Jammu Tawi, Apr 15: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the opposition INDI Alliance must collectively decide its response to the proposed delimitation bill.
Speaking to reporters here, the CM said he will attend a meeting of the INDI Bloc in New Delhi at the residence of Mallikarjun Kharge to deliberate on a joint strategy.
“We cannot act alone. The INDI Alliance will have to decide together what our response will be and what role we will play in Parliament, whether in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha,” he said.
Raising concerns over past delimitation exercises; he alleged that constituency restructuring was carried out in a manner that benefited the BJP and its allies. “The way seats were distributed, constituencies carved, maps drawn and voters shifted, the purpose appeared to favour a particular political side,” he said.
The CM added that if the proposed bill follows a similar pattern, it will require close scrutiny. “If it is meant to benefit a particular party rather than the common voter, it has to be examined carefully. The opposition will deliberate collectively before taking a stand,” he said.
Meanwhile, CM Omar Abdullah participated in the INDI Alliance meeting held at Kharge’s residence.
After the meeting, Kharge said they will oppose delimitation.
“We are not against women’s reservation, but oppose the way the government is bringing the bills. It is politically motivated. We have decided to oppose the delimitation bill,” Kharge said.
J&K Assembly set for 6th delimitation proposal
Jammu Tawi, Apr 15: If Parliament approves the proposed legislations on the delimitation of Lok Sabha and State Assembly constituencies, the Jammu & Kashmir’s Assembly seats will undergo delimitation for the sixth time.
According to official documents, Assembly seats in Jammu & Kashmir have previously been delimited in 1957, 1966, 1975, 1995 and 2022.
In 1951, Jammu & Kashmir witnessed the carving out of 100 seats, including 25 seats for areas of the state under Pakistan’s occupation. This arrangement underwent changes during the delimitation exercises carried out in 1957, 1966, 1975, and 1995.
The last delimitation exercise in the erstwhile state was completed in 1995, based on the 1981 census, after deliberations that lasted seven years.
Before 2019, the delimitation of Assembly seats in Jammu & Kashmir was governed by the Jammu & Kashmir Constitution and the Jammu & Kashmir Representation of Peoples Act, 1957, while the delimitation of parliamentary seats was governed by the Constitution of India.
The situation changed in 2019 with the abrogation of Article 370, when the Centre made legal provisions in the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act to carry out delimitation exercise.
In 2020, the Union Government constituted a three-member commission headed by Justice (Retd) Ranjana Desai to increase seats as well as redraw the boundaries of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies. The exercise was completed in 2022, with the commission unveiling its final award.
