In Jammu, NC joins BJP in demand over delimitation formula

‘Population, geography, topography, area, physical features, contiguity must be considered’

Political parties and civil society members, across the ideological divide, demanded an increase in Assembly segments in the Chenab Valley in the Jammu province on Thursday, during their meeting with the J&K Delimitation Commission, headed by Justice (Retd) Ranjana Prakash Desai. BJP’s Sunil Sharma, who met the panel along with five other leaders, suggested that the fresh electoral rolls and not the 2011 Census should be the basis of delimitation. “The 2011 Census was fudged. Earlier, constituencies were identified to please two families. Our suggestion is that the population should not be the sole criteria. The terrain, its vastness, accessibility and scattered population should be taken into consideration. The Chenab Valley should be seen as per the watershed of the river Chenab and accordingly new constituencies should be identified,” Mr. Sharma said.