Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 18: Chief patron of National Panthers Party (NPP), Prof Bhim Singh today appealed Governor Satya Pal Malik to hold delimitation of Assembly Constituencies before holding general elections to the Assembly and the Lok Sabha.
Addressing a press conference here today, Bhim Singh said this is shocking state of affairs that the political parties in Jammu & Kashmir have forgotten as to what needs to be done before holding general elections to the Assembly and the Lok Sabha.
Click here to watch video
“This is a Constitutional tragedy that the J&K Government had passed a law deciding to hold Assembly elections without holding delimitation of Assembly Constituencies till 2026,” he said, adding, the Panthers Party had filed a writ petition in this connection in the Supreme Court which has put the ball in the court of the Governor as there is no Assembly to take decision on holding delimitation.
Prof Bhim Singh said J&K has its own Constitution which provides power to the Governor to amend any clause in the Constitution and the Governor of J&K has power in him to hold delimitation before holding general elections to the Assembly. This is a shame that there has been no delimitation since 1975 though it is Constitutional mandate to hold delimitation of the Constituencies before holding the next Assembly elections.
“Kashmir region has got about 12,000 square kilometers of area, 46 Assembly seats and 3 Lok Sabha Constituencies. On the other hand Jammu region/province has got 28,000 square kilometers of area and population as assessed after last census was more than Kashmir region,” the NPP supremo said and called it a great discrimination that Jammu region/province has got 2 Lok Sabha Constituencies and Kashmir region 3. Also Kashmir region has got 46 Assembly Constituencies whereas Jammu region has only 37 Assembly seats.
He also reiterated NPP stand for reorganization of J&K by setting up a confederation of Jammu & Kashmir without breaking the State.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
