delimitation: J&K Delimitation panel rejects demand for redrawing seats

The J&K delimitation panel is believed to have taken up 22 ‘suggestions, objections and concerns’ raised by five associate members – Bharatiya Janata Party Members of Parliament (MPS) Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishor and National Conference MP Farooq Abdullah. 15 is accepted. , Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi.

ET has learned that most of the demands are related to the renaming of the proposed assembly and parliamentary constituencies.

However, suggestions to include some areas, the halqa within another constituency, have been largely rejected by the panel on the basis of proximity among other factors.

The NC’s demand against the inclusion of assembly constituencies from Jammu in the recently drawn Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency was also rejected.

The delimitation panel is clear that J&K should be treated as a single entity and not as two separate divisions in the rescheduling of constituencies.

The panel also took suggestions seeking a less stringent approach on any proposal that tinkered with the 18 assembly constituencies per parliamentary constituency model or basic administrative unit or taluka—known as ‘patwar halqa’ in Kashmir. has been rejected.

While suggestions for restoration of constituency names or new ones have been largely accepted from both sides, ET has gathered.

For example, accepting the suggestions of the associate members, the Larlu constituency will now be known as Kokernag and Anantnag as Shangas Anantnag.

As per the demand of the NC, the Srinagar South constituency will be named as Habba Kadal as demanded by the NC MPs.

Congress has so far not sent any representation to the panel, nor has the People’s Democratic Party boycotted the delimitation discussion.

A revised draft delimitation motion—accepting 15 of the 22 suggestions—has been sent to the three associate members for their consideration.

They have to respond by March 4, after which, the election panel will take a final view on the draft delimitation and publish it for public comment as per procedure.

It is expected that the delimitation panel’s report will be ready by May 6- the extended deadline, setting the stage for holding elections in J&K.

The scene of action will then go to the Election Commission of India, which will then have to hold elections in the state.

The process of voter list revision is expected to take another 2-3 months.

Unless elections can be held in J&K by September-October this year, it is quite likely that the cold will send the polling schedule for the union territory in 2023.

Originally published at Pen 18