NEW DELHI, 14 October 2006 — During an all-party meeting held yesterday, it was decided to delink the issue of delimitation of constituencies from Women’s Reservation Bill. While the Women’s Reservation Bill is expected to be introduced in the winter session of Parliament in the coming month, the 2009 general elections are likely to be held on the basis of redrawn constituencies.
Later, Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters: “By and large, the consensus of the meeting was that the Delimitation Commission’s work should continue and be completed on time.” Yet, it is still too early to assume that this is suggestive of the members having reached a consensus on the nature of delimitation exercise and whether 2009 elections would be held on the basis of redrawn constituencies.
During the meeting, Trinamool Congress, rival of left parties in West Bengal, claimed that no consensus was arrived at regarding delimitation.
The government is likely to hold further consultations with political parties regarding delimitation of constituencies.
With the last delimitation exercise held 30 years ago, since then demographics across the country have changed tremendously.
The risk viewed by various parties is that of losing their old “safe” and “secure” seats in the redrawing of constituencies. Besides, the Delimitation Commission, headed by Justice Kuldeep Singh is to be based on 2001 census. In view of objections raised by those concerned about losing “safe” seats, the government has circulated a fresh 14-page note which proposes amendments to the Delimitation Act 2002.
With delimitation to be done on the basis of population, there is a chance of the number of seats in urban India increasing because of migration to urban areas. The government is thus considering amendment to relax requirement of population as the sole criteria. The commission is to be asked to allow a leeway of a 25 percent increase or decrease in population.
