JK Govt proposes 28 more Assembly seats

Jammu, Jan 6 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Government has proposed an enhancement of 28 seats in the state Legislative Assembly through 33rd Constitutional Amendment Bill, which required two-third majority for passage in the Lower House.

The matter of delimitation of state Legislative Assembly constituencies was discussed in an all party meeting, which was presided over by Minister for Law &Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Hameed Karra, last evening. It was decided to bring a legislation seeking an amendment in the bill, sources said here today.

Main opposition, National Conference (NC), Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the coalition partner National Panthers Party (NPP), were critical of the Bill for different reasons.

Mr Karra said the government was trying to build consensus among various political parties over increasing the strength of the Legislative Assembly seats. ''As the Bill has long-term political implications, the government wants to take on board all the views before proceeding ahead on this crucial issue,'' he said.

The government, according to the Common Minimum Programme, has already announced that the strength of the seats of the Legislative Assembly would be increased by 25 per cent for which a Delimitation Commission would be constituted.

According to the drafted legislation, the Government proposed an increase of 28 seats in the Assembly from present 111, including 22 seats reserved for the so-called Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to 139.

While nine more seats were proposed for the Jammu division 12 for the Kashmir valley, one for Ladakh and increase of six seats was proposed from present 22 for PoK, sources said, adding that number of nominated seats for women was kept the same at two.

Present strength of the Assembly is 111 comprising 46 from the Kashmir Valley, 37 from Jammu, 22 from PoK and four from Ladakh.

Besides, there are two women members nominated by the government.

UNI