Last month’s proposals of the Delimitation Commission had sparked outrage in the Jammu region as well.
New Delhi:
The Center will take a final call on elections in Jammu and Kashmir after the Delimitation Commission submits its final report by the end of April. Sources said the decision will be taken after the Center reviews all aspects, including security.
A senior government official said, “The report will be submitted to the Ministry of Law and Justice as they notified the commission. And then the summary revision of the electoral roll will be done by the Election Commission.”
According to him, after the next three to four months, the draft rolls will be published and door-to-door verification will be done. “After all this process, it seems that the government may convene an all-party meeting and take their opinion,” he said.
Last month’s proposals of the Delimitation Commission had sparked outrage in the Jammu region as well. The entire BJP unit in Suchetgarh assembly constituency had resigned after the commission proposed to merge the assembly with the RS Pura constituency, forcing the commission to back down on its proposal.
“It is a reserved constituency, so there is a lot of resentment among the people,” said a senior official.
There is also growing outrage in parts of Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts against the new electoral map, which includes significant changes.
The commission has proposed six new constituencies in the Jammu region comprising the districts of Udhampur, Rajouri, Doda, Kathua, Samba and Kishtwar.
This will take the strength of the Hindu-majority region to 43 from the current 37 in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. A new seat has been proposed for Kashmir, which will be created in Kupwara district, bringing the current number of 46 seats to 47 in the Muslim-majority legislature.
Under the chairmanship of retired Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and State Election Commissioner KK Sharma, the commission was set up on March 6, 2020, with a tenure of one year, which was extended by one more year. While the term was due to end on March 6, 2022, it was given an extension of two months.