The Hindu : Delay in getting census figures hits constituency delimitation process

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 19, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Delay in getting census figures hits constituency delimitation process

By N.J. Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 18. The alleged delay of the Central Government in publishing the final census figures of 2001 has impeded the delimitation process of the Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies in the State.

Sources in the Delimitation Commission told The Hindu here that the commission has prepared a list of seats entitled for each constituency in all the 14 districts based on the provisional census figures of 2001 and now it is waiting for the final figures to complete the work.

The commission, headed by the former Supreme Court Judge, Kuldip Singh, with the State Election Commissioner, N. Mohandas, and the Central Election Commissioner, B.B. Tandon, as members is learnt to have prepared the draft report. The commission was formed under the provisions of the Delimitation Act passed by the Lok Sabha in 2000.

The commission has done the work in consultation with five MPs and five MLAs nominated by the Lok Sabha and Assembly Speakers respectively who function as associate members. The commission has also held consultations with various political parties. Final decisions are made on the basis of majority decision among the commission members. As all the primary data has been compiled, the final list can be drawn up within four months if the final census figures are provided to the commission, sources said.

The delimitation of constituencies in the State was last done in 1972. Rules have it that the delimitation should be done once in 10 years, but it took 30 years to begin the process in the State. Delimitation is done on the basis of the population in each district to ensure the equitable distribution of development funds and other benefits.

As per the census figures of 1971, the population in the State was 21,347,375. According to the provisional figures of 2001 census, the population went up to 31,838,619. Though the commission has started the process, there will not be any increase in either the number of Lok Sabha or Assembly seats.

But there will be changes in the number of Assembly seats in each districts. The changes have been envisaged retaining the existing structure of the panchayats, which are the basic units of administration, sources said.

According to the provisional figures, the maximum number of voters in an Assembly constituency is 2,50,161 and the minimum, 2,04,677. The maximum variation permissible in the number of voters in a constituency is 10 per cent. As per the provisional figures, there will be an increase in Assembly segments in Malappuram, Kannur, Kozhikode and Palakkad districts.

Malappuram will gain four more segments and the total seats entitled in the provisional list is 16 against the 14 existing seats. Kannur, Kozhikode and Palakkad have been entitled for one more seat each against the existing 10, 12 and 11 respectively, sources said.

Thrissur, Kottayam and Kollam stand to lose one seat each from the existing 14, 10 and 12 and Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta would lose two seats each from the existing 11 and seven seats respectively. No changes have been mooted in the number of segments in Kasaragod, Wayanad, Ernakulam, Idukki and Thiruvananthapuram, sources said.

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