Massive changes in 5 LS seats
STs to have 3 seats in Kashmir, 5 in Jammu
HANAN FAYAZ
SRINAGAR : The first draft report of the Delimitation Commission was submitted earlier in December last year. The draft stoked a huge controversy and was highly critiqued by the political parties of Jammu and Kashmir especially from Kashmir province. The leaders of these parties even staged protests and termed the report as unscientific and disproportionate.
Now the Delimitation Commission has again dispatched its second detailed report to the five associate Member Parliamentarians which after being shared with the media has revealed massive changes in the newly demarcated Assembly constituencies of J&K.
In the summer capital of Srinagar, Chanapora and Srinagar South have emerged as the daughter constituencies from the previously existing Haba Kadal and Amira Kadal constituencies. This fresh demarcation will immensely affect the pre-existing vote bank of the political parties which they might need to recalibrate in time.
Interestingly, Haba Kadal Constituency that was once considered a stronghold of Kashmiri Pandits ceases to exist and is no more a separate constituency in the Commission’s report.
According to the report, Baramulla district has lost Sangrama constituency as Kreeri, Wagoora & Khoi tehsils have been merged with Tangmarg which has been created as a constituency. Kunzer which was earlier a part of Tangmarag constituency has also come up as a new Assembly segment in Baramulla district getting some parts of Pattan Tehsil including Wanigam Payeen, Tilgam, Tapper Waripora & Hamrey in its boundary.
Besides, an additional constituency of Trehgam has been added to district Kupwara comprising of Kralpora Tehsil, Keran Tehsil, Gulgam and Awoora. There are few minor changes in the rest of constituencies in Kupwara. Bandipora and Ganderbal considerably remain unchanged excluding Lar Tehsil that has been added to Kangan from Ganderbal constituency.
Likewise, the territorial constituencies of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district have been meticulously redrawn. It has resulted in the formation of Anantnag, Anantnag East, Anantnag West and Larnoo Constituencies while balkanizing the erstwhile Kokernag assembly segment.
The electoral boundaries of Kulgam district are still unchanged mostly with an exception of Hom Shali Bug constituency that is apparently obliterated. Shopian and Pulwama districts have been scarcely influenced by the current Delimitation process.
In its report, the delimitation panel headed by former Supreme Court judge, Justice (retd.) Ranjana Desai has proposed a trans- Pir Panchal Lok Sabha segment spread over Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian districts of Kashmir province and Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu province.
The seat christened as Anantnag- Rajouri segment is spread over 11 assembly segments of Kashmir province and seven segments of Jammu province.
The seat is spread over Zainapora, D.H. Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Lernoo (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Bijbhera, Anantnag East, Pahalgam, Nowshera, Rajouri (ST), Darhal (ST), Thana Mandi (ST), Surankote (ST), Poonch Haveli (ST) and Mendhar (ST).
According to the proposal, all segments of Pulwama districts and one seat of Shopian have been added to Srinagar Lok Sabha seat.
With these additions, the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat comprises of Kangan (ST), Ganderbal, Hazratbal, Khanyar, south Srinagar, Sonawar, Chanapora, Zoonimar, Eidgah, central Shalteng, Khansahib, Chrar-i-Sharif, Chadoora, Pampore, Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora and Shopian constituencies.
Two segments of Budgam district have also been added to Baramulla Lok Sabha seat. As per the report, the Baramulla Lok Sabha segment comprises of Karnah, Trehgam, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara, Langate, Sopore, Rohama Rafiabad, Uri, Baramulla, Tangmarg, Kunzer, Pattan, Sonawari, Bandipora, Gurez (ST), Budgam and Beerwah.
As per this report Udhampur Lok Sabha seats comprises of Mughalmaidan, Kishtwar, Padder, Bhaderwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, Banihal, Udhampur West, Udhampur East, Chenani, Ramnagar (SC), Bani, Billawar, Basholi, Kathua North, Kathua South(SC) and Hira Nagar assembly seats.
The new Jammu Lok Sabha seat is now comprised of Mahore, Reasi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Ramgarh, Samba, Vijaypur, Bishnah, RS Pura, Jammu south, Bahu, Jammu East, Balwal- Nagrota, Jammu West, Jammu North, Marh, Akhnoor, Khour and Kalkote- Sunderbani
Meanwhile, commission has proposed to reserve three seats for scheduled tribes in Kashmir. The commission has proposed to reserve Gurez, Kangan and Larnoo seats in Kashmir province.
In Jammu province, the panel has proposed to reserve Darhal, Thana Mandi, Surankote, Poonch Haveli, Mendhar and Mahore seats for STs.
After the submission of this second report, Kashmir based political parties have once again expressed dismay and profound resentment over the redrawing of territorial constituencies.
Observing the electoral strong holds of the various Kashmir based political parties, National Conference and PDP appears to be in a troubled situation. People’s Conference & Apni Party have also to refurbish their positions in North Kashmir as Sangrama has been eliminated while Kunzer and Trehgam have come into existence. Clearly, the new Delimitation Report has created ripples that will shake the foundations of the J&K’s pre-existing voter pockets.
Pertinently, the delimitation commission on Friday evening shared its second report with five members of parliament (MPs) from the Union Territory.
The report defining boundaries of 90 assembly segments of Jammu & Kashmir was shared with MPs at 7: 00 pm Friday. “The report has been sent to all MPs from J&K,” they said, adding that the entire process of delimitation is likely to be completed in the next one month.
According to sources, the delimitation commission has also asked MPs to submit their objections, if any, over the report. “After they will file objections, the commission will seek objections and suggestions from the general public and hold sittings at different places to consider these suggestions, “a local news agency KNO, said while quoting its sources.
On December 20, the panel shared district—wise seat allocation with MPs from Jammu and Kashmir. In its report, the panel proposed six new seats for Jammu division and one in Kashmir division.
