As 600-700 representations have been filed on the draft proposal of delimitation of the Jammu and Kashmir after putting the report in the public domain on March 14, the Delimitation Commission will hold public sittings at Jammu and Srinagar on April 4 and 5 to discuss the suggestions/objections received by the stakeholders before finalising the redrawing of the boundaries of Assemblies and Parliament.
Top sources said that 600-700 representations have been filed before the Commission by political parties, organizations, and individuals after putting the report in the public domain on March 14. “ The Commission will settle claims and objections either by accepting or rejecting the suggestions. The claims which are accepted by the Panel will reflect in the final report which it will be submitting on or before May 6, the extended timeline for finalizing recommendations,” sources added. The Commission is likely to hold public sittings on Monday and Tuesday on the draft proposal.
Sources said that the Commission will be meeting people/ delegations in Jammu province on April 4 at the Convention Centre where delegations from Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Samba and Jammu have been given time for an appointment. While the delegations and individuals of Kashmir districts -Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Ganderbal, Bandipore, Kupwara and Baramulla will meet the Commission at SKICC Srinagar on April 5. The Commission had sought suggestions and objections from people till March 21.
In their 18-page dissent note of the National Conference Jammu Kashmir given by the Associate Members stated that the party doesn’t agree with recommendations of the Commission and questioned very constitution of the Panel pending Supreme Court verdict on Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act.
On the other hand, the Congress has demanded renaming of Jammu East Assembly seat as Temple City, Bahu as Bawe Wali Mata constituency and Thanna Mandi as Shahdara Sharief. The party said the people were expecting one additional Lok Sabha seat but the Panel has committed a mistake by making a Lok Sabha constituency by dividing two divisions (Anantnag-Poonch Parliamentary seat).
Voicing concern over gap in voters in Assembly constituencies, the Congress pointed out that some seats are based on 30,000 and 50,000 votes while others have close to 2 lakh votes. It cited the names of Gurez which was based on 30,000 votes, Paddar which has 51,000 electorates, Dooru which comprised 1.92 lakh voters and Surankote having 1.82 lakh votes.
BSP president Som Raj Majotra has submitted constituency wise suggestions to the Delimitation Commission. The suggestions pertained to Kathua South, Kathua North, Ramgarh, Samba, Nagrota, Raipur Domana, RS Pura-Jammu South and Akhnoor constituencies
Asserting that the last Delimitation Commission had taken seven years to submit a report, sources said the existing Panel will be completing its task within two years and two months despite COVID pandemic due to which it couldn’t do much work in first year. Headed by Justice (Retired) Ranjana Prakash Desai and comprising Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra and State Election Commissioner (SEC) KK Sharma, the Commission was set up on March 6, 2020 with one-year term which was extended by another year. While the term was due to expire on March 6, 2022, it was granted two months extension till May 6 this year.