Next LS polls on basis of Delimitation Commission report: PM
New Delhi, Jan 16 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the next Lok Sabha elections would be held on the basis of the Delimitation Commission report, but made it clear that ways and means would be found to hold polls on the basis of "existing delimitation" in the Jharkhand state.
Dr Singh, who was replying to a specific query from newspersons while returning to Delhi from Beijing last night about the Commission report and follow up debate in parties and states, said the Delimitation Commission had completed the exercise with regard to 25 states.
In Jharkhand, several political parties had complained that it would create more tensions because the number of tribal seats was going to be reduced.
Dr
Singh
said
Jharkhand
was
created
to
help
the
tribals
"and
if
we
begin
the
process
of
reducing
the
tribal
representation
in
Parliament
and
Assembly
that
will
be
a
setback.
So
we
have
to
find
ways
and
means
so
that
Jharkhand
can
go
to
polls
on
the
basis
of
existing
delimitation.But
for
the
other
24
states
Delimitation
Commission
report
will
form
the
basis
of
next
Parliament
elections.'' Elaborating,
the
Prime
Minister
said,"as
far
as
the
four
north-eastern
states-
--Assam,
Manipur,
Arunachal
Pradesh
and
Nagaland---there
also
the
delimitation
has
not
taken
place
because
there
were
court
injunctions
and
that
have
been
lifted
but
there
are
some
problems
and
there
also
we
felt
that
the
delimitation
need
not
be
pursued.
So
elections
will
take
place
there
on
the
basis
of
existing
delimitation."
UNI
NB
RP
KP1658