Delimitation may kick off with Karnataka

By approving implementation of the delimitation commission’s report at a meeting of the Cabinet committee on political affairs (CCPA) on Thursday night, the UPA has government has sought to send clear signals that it will not come in the way of holding forthcoming elections in delimited constituencies. UPA managers on Friday asserted that there was a view emerging now that the Assembly polls in Karnataka should be held on redrawn constituencies, so that the UPA is not charged with holding up its implementation. The Supreme Court has already questioned the delay in implementation of delimitation in 25 states for which notifications have already been issued by the commission.

The BJP and the Left parties have maintained that they are in favour of an early notification to implement the commission’s report. Government managers, however, pointed out that much would depend on when elections in Karnataka are notified and the cushion time given by the election commission. The government will not only need time to make the electorate aware of changes, but even the commission will need sufficient time to prepare fresh electoral rolls on the basis of freshly delimited constituencies.

The delimitation report has posed problems for the UPA as some of its close allies like the RJD and the

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