Delimitation affects 188 constituencies in Rajasthan

Jaipur, Oct 17 (UNI) The nature and constitution of 188 of the 200 Assembly constituencies in Rajasthan have been changed in the new delimitation prompting the election department to make multi-pronged efforts to inform people of the changes and many leaders to find new bastions for themselves.

While 36 existing Assembly constituencies have been abolished, as many new have been created. The category of 21 constituencies has also been changed from general to reserved or vice versa.

Now 34 constituencies have been reserved for SCs and 25 for STs, an Election Office spokesman said.

This has forced several prominent leaders from the ruling BJP and opposition parties to search for new constituencies for themselves.

Assembly segments of at least 10 ministers including Prabhu Lal Saini(Uniara), Sanwar Lal Jat(Bhinai), Nathu Singh Gurjar(Toda Raisingh), Digambar Singh(Kumher), Kali Charan Saraf(Johari Bazar), Usha Punia(Mundwa) have either been abolished or category have been changed from general to reserved or vice-versa.

The delimitation has also affected prominent leaders from opposition parties. Congress state working president Paras Ram Mordiya's Laxmangarh(SC) seat has now been put in general category forcing him to find a new bastion in the ensuing election.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Ms Kamla, former Minister Rajendra Chaudhary, Congress leader Paras Ram Maderna's son Mahipal Maderna and CPI(M) sitting MLA Amara Ram Dhodh are other leaders affected by the delimitation process.

In view of the changes, the state election department has also been making all out efforts to make voters aware of changes.

The department has been providing the requisite information regarding geography and status of the constituency on its website, an official spokesman said.

Detailed maps of every constituency had been loaded at the website with details of localities and polling booths.

A special helpline has also been set up to answer voters' queries on internet, through SMS and/or call centers.

Besides this, advertisements had also been published in print media in this regard, the spokesman said.

UNI SS SW RP NS1438