The Union Cabinet decided on Thursday to go in for new delimitation for Lok Sabha as well as Assembly constituencies, when it approved the recommendation of Kuldip Singh Commission on Delimitation.
The Central move consequently, paved the way for extension of President’s rule in Karnataka, which had to meet its end by May 28. Now the elections for the Legislative Assembly are likely to be held in October-November coinciding with the election in other states such as Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir.
It is now for President Pratibha Patil to sign the formal notification, which she may sign in two-three days as per official sources. After which the Election Commission will need time to prepare the rolls as per the redrawn constituencies in the backdrop of the new implementation of the Delimitation Commission report.
As per the official sources Prime Minister has to decide on issuing the date of notification for the implementation of the Delimitation report.
Some leaders are of the point of view in order to avoid controversy notification should be issued around March 10, once the assembly election in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland gets over.
This is because election in these three states is going to be held in late February and early March, according to the existing constituencies and so to avert any legal troubles the notification on delimitation should be issued later.
On asking about the probable month of the election, some of the government sources say that Karnataka poll may be extended to the December-January along with the Lok Sabha poll, which term comes to expire by March 2009.
If the Congress would realise that it has definite support in these bigger states, it will go for election in October-November. But if the case is reversed, it will not allow the rival parties to take advantage of the circumstances and thus will go for election in all these states during December-January simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls.
May 28: the deadline
President rule in Karnataka has been effective in the state from last November, which comes to an end on May 28 with the constitution of the 13th Assembly. But, this is impossible to constitute new Assembly, as now all the 224 Assembly constituencies have to be freshly demarcated.
The fact also get supported by the statement of Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami, who categorically stated during his visit to Bangalore last month that under the new Delimitation recommendation, the Election Commission would require four to six months to complete the review of electoral rolls. After the notification on delimitation a lot of administrative and legal work will have to be completed.
States affected by new delimitation.
The recommendation for new delimitation for Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies will affect only Karnataka, which is under President’s rule.
The president most probably will issue a single date for commencement of the delimitation process for all the 24 states. The four north-eastern states will be kept exempted from the new delimitation process.
Jharkhand state will also be kept away from the delimitation process, as it would affect the tribal population losing constituencies than gaining them.
Advantage for political parties
The implementation of the new recommendation is significant for the Congress party, as it will provide them the sufficient time to turn wave in Karnataka in their favour. The wave on which, BJP thinks it is riding.
The major political parties BJP and JD (S) in Karnataka are also happy with the new delimitation process, but not in favour of postponement of the polls.
In the last Assembly Election that held in 2004 in Karnataka, BJP was the major political party leading with 79 seats, whereas Congress with 65 and Janta Dal (S) with 58 seats dominated the polls.
|
|
Read More: Jammu | Bangalore Rural
Comments:
