Patil for consensus on delimitation problem

New Delhi, Mar 1 (UNI) Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, conceding that there were complex problems regarding delimitation of constituencies, called upon the members to give their suggestions so that a consensus could be evolved.

''We will discuss it with political parties and do something which is broadly acceptable to all,'' he said replying to a discussion on the Government of Union Territoris and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill 2006, which was later passed.

''It is necessary to look into the problems regarding the number of constituencies being affected during delimitation caused by the migration of population,'' he said. The Delimitation Commission was willing to discuss the problems with people and members to redraw the boundaries. But that itself was not enough, he added.

Mr Patil said elections to Pondicherry Assembly will be conducted on the same basis as will be done in the case of West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala where elections will be held this year.

After the Law is passed, the Election Commission should hold elections there on the basis of the notification by the Centre, or else it would have to be conducted on the basis of the 1971 census, he said.

The Home Minister said several complaints had been received against the Delimitation Commission engaged in redrawing of boundaries. The number of people in a constituency had increased as people had migrated from the rural to urban areas.

In some districts, the ST population had decreased drastically affecting the number of constituencies. While the population in rural areas is decreasing, in urban areas it is increasing due to migration.

Earlier, Santosh Gangwar (BJP), Bhartruhari Mehtab (BJD), Prof M Ramadass (PMK), Krishna Tirath (Cong), Raghunath Jha (RJD), among others, participated in the discussion.

UNI YS MSJ BD1621