CEC presides over Delimitation Commn hearing in MP

Bhopal, Feb 20 (UNI) A strong protest was registered today, against a proposal to accord 'reserved' status to the Betul Lok Sabha constituency, during a public hearing here of the Delimitation Commission's draft proposal regarding Madhya Pradesh's parliamentary constituencies and assembly seats.

The second consecutive day's hearing took place in the presence of Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy, who is a Delimitation Commission Member.

While objections received from Bhopal and Hoshangabad divisions were being heard, a protest was also registered against the termination of Itarsi vidhan sabha constituency. However, people from Hoshangabad district's Sohagpur and Babai supported the proposal for a New Sohagpur assembly seat.

A protest was registered against the inclusion of Raisen district's Udaypura vidhan sabha seat in Hoshangabad parliamentary constituency. Most speakers felt it would be proper to include Harda district's Timarni assembly seat instead, in view of geographical factors.

''The proposal to reserve Betul, as a Scheduled Tribes constituency, was tabled due to non-compliance of the Delimitation Commission's directives,'' said Betul's Bharatiya Janata Party MP Vijay Khandelwal. Some people present outside the hearing's venue staged a protest demonstration.

Yesterday, objections pertaining to Gwalior, Chambal and Sagar divisions were heard.

''The receipt of 21,900 objections within just two days is an indicator of public awareness. The Delimitation Commission will submit its report to the President within three months,'' Mr Gopalaswamy later told journalists.

Hearings are scheduled at Indore on February 22 and at Jabalpur on February 26.

UNI