Reserved constituencies to be redistributed: CEC

Madurai, May 19 (UNI) Reserved Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu concentrated in a few northern districts under the present draft proposals of Delimitation Commission, will be redistributed across the regions, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalsamy announced today.

Intervening during the public sitting of the Commission here, the CEC made it clear that suggestions were welcome to distribute them all over the state.

He was responding to questions from those who pointed out that the draft proposal had deprived representation for certain dominant sections and geographical regions, with six of the eight Lok Sabha (LS) seats in the state, being concentrated in the northern belt.

On the lines of Uttar Pradesh, the reserved seats could be re-allocated, he observed and sought concrete suggestions to this effect.

Elaborating, the CEC noted it all happened in UP that the reserved LS constituencies were concentrated in one region but redistribution was carried out with every division, comprising a few districts, having one each, So, such a model could be adopted here also.

Unlike in UP, there were no divisions but five zones with an IGP, which could form a starting point for redistribution.

The CEC's intervention was preceded by heated exchanges with the elected representatives, who were a part of the panel, and those who deposed and presented their demands.

Earlier in the day, the People's Liberation Party, led by former Legislator S K Murugavel Rajan took out a protest rally and staged a demonstration in the city.

The Puthiya Thamizhagam, led by Dr Krishnasamy had called for a bandh yesterday, besides holding token dawn to dusk fast at the block-level in the southern districts.

UNI