A broad framework of the delimitation exercise is being prepared, on the completion of which the Delimitation Commission, set up to redraw the constituencies of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, will visit the four states and the Union Territory,
Speaking about it, officials informed that the commission will seek views and inputs of its “associate members” after drawing up the broad framework.
“First the broad framework has to be developed on carving out constituencies based on the 2011 Census,” reported The Indian Express quoting an official.
“Only then would the Delimitation Commission visit the states to meet locals,” the official added.
“Once the framework is drawn, it would also interact with associate members to seek their views and inputs,” the official further said.
It may be mentioned here that the commission will redraw the Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies of the four states from the northeast.
It will work on increasing the assembly seats of Jammu and Kashmir as per the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act.
The Delimitation Commission was set up in March this year and it is headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai (retd).
The Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra is the representative of the Election Commission in the delimitation panel while state election commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir and the four states are its ex-officio members.
Earlier in May, the Lok Sabha Speaker nominated 15 MPs from Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh as “associate members” of the said commission to assist the panel in redrawing parliamentary and assembly constituencies.
Among the 15 MPs are two Union ministers – Kiren Rijiju and Jitendra Singh.