Will urge Commission to keep area, population, topography in mind before finalizing seats: Avinash Rai Khanna, expecting little difference between Kashmir, Jammu seats, says another BJP leader
Abid Bashir
Srinagar, Feb 28 : As the Centre rolls out the ball for setting up the much awaited delimitation commission in Jammu and Kashmir so that assembly polls, already due, are held this year only, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said that the Commission must keep all parameters—population, topography in mind to end regional disparity that had been there since seven decades. The party said that its main demand before the commission was to ensure justice with Kashmir and Jammu and to do away with the regional discrimination.
BJP is vociferously working to ensure that that delimitation commission (DC) which is all set to start its process in April this year, should keep all important parameters in mind before finalizing the decision on seat sharing between Kashmir and Jammu. As per the J&K’s Re-organization Act-2019, Ladakh Union Territory will not have a legislature while as Jammu and Kashmir UT will have a separate legislature after delimitation exercise reported news agency KNO.
“Our major demand before the commission is to keep all parameters in mind for ending regional injustice. Let the commission shape up fully first, we will put forth our views in detail,” BJP’s national vice-president and J&K affair’s in-charge, Avinash Rai Khanna told KNO, over phone from Jaipur.
He said that Assembly elections will held in due course of time when the delimitation exercise is completed.
A senior BJP leader said that the party stands for equality between Kashmir and Jammu regions. “There is not much difference between Kashmir and Jammu in terms of population. Seats must be distributed keeping in view the area, population, topography,” he said, wishing not to be named. “Our main aim is that regional bias and injustice should end,” he said.
Pertinently, Centre recently set the ball rolling to form the delimitation commission (DC). On February 18, Election Commission nominated Sushil Chandera as the member for DC while as J&K’s Election Commissioner will also be the member of the Commission, which is expected to take final shape by April 10. According to J&K Re-organisation Act, 2019, the number of seats in the Legislative Assembly are to increase from 107 to 114 with due reservations for SC and STs reported news agency KNO.
