People's Democracy

BIHAR

CPI(M) Rejects Draft Delimitation Proposals

THE CPI(M) Bihar state committee has called upon the Delimitation Commission to reject the draft proposals received on delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies in the state. It suggested that instead the commission may direct its officials to prepare a fresh draft, fully in consonance with the provisions of the Act, the guidelines issued thereunder and the mandate of the Constitution of India.

On November 1, Bihar CPI(M) state secretary Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi and state secretariat member Subodh Roy submitted a memorandum on this issue to the chairman of the commission. The chairman assured the CPI(M) leaders that their view would be considered and justice ensured to all  grievances. The CPI(M) leaders submitted a copy of the memorandum to the Election Commission of India also. 

The CPI(M) memorandum noted that among the associated members to the present Delimitation Committee, no representation has been given to the Left parties – CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML). They submitted that the Left parties are in principle opposed to caste-based structuring and restructuring of constituencies. Therefore, they demanded that in order to balance the Delimitation Committee, inclusion of Left parties must be ensured.

The representatives of the political parties had unanimously resolved that fresh exercise for formulating the delimitation proposals be undertaken by the commission as there are numerous points of objections to the present proposals. The CPI(M) leaders stressed that while doing this the commission must keep in view the provisions of the Act and the guidelines issued there under as well as the following facts:

1. All districts where 5, 6 or 7 assembly constituencies are existing should constitute one parliamentary constituency without disturbing the administrative unit and where one assembly segment is short or in excess can be adjusted to the adjacent constituency.

2. Big rivers of Bihar like Ganga, Kosi, Budi Gandak, Sone, Falgu and other small rivers shall be taken into consideration so that no boundary of a single constituency crosses the river.

3. 10 per cent plus or minus of the formula should be revised and it should be confined to only 5 per cent so that balance of population is maintained.

 As there has been complete violation of the provision of the Act, the proposed drafts of the Delimitation Commission is not acceptable to some associate members as well as large number of people championing the cause of free and fair election in the state, stressed the CPI(M) leaders.

(INN)