THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the final picture of the delimitation of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies emerging, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) seems to have gained an advantage over the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the State.

Although there is no change in the number of constituencies, a perusal of the structure of the local bodies institutions in the delimited constituencies reveal that the LDF has an edge over the UDF. The constituencies were delimited as per the Census figures of 2001. Local bodies' institutions have been taken as the basic unit for purposes of the delimitation exercise and, according to the existing pattern, the LDF has an upper hand in a majority of the panchayats.

The best instance of the extent of LDF domination can be gauged from the pattern of the distribution of constituencies in Thiruvananthapuram district. Both the Lok Sabha constituencies are now being held by the LDF. Out of the 14 Assembly segments, the UDF has 10 and the LDF four seats. Aryanad, Thiruvananthapuram North, East and West, now being held by the UDF, have been delimited to form Vattiyoorkavu, Thiruvananthapuram, Aruvikkara and Kattakada segments. Structural changes have been made to Kazhakuttom and Nemom that have returned UDF candidates.

Except in Thiruvananthapuram segment, where the rival fronts are evenly matched, the LDF has a clear edge in all other constituencies. In the newly-constituted Thiruvananthapuram segment, there are 25 Corporation wards. The LDF has 12, the UDF 10 and the BJP 2 wards. One ward has an independent councillor.

The Kazhakkuttom Assembly segment comprises the Kazhakuttom and Sreekariyam panchayats and 16 wards of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. Both the panchayats and 13 out of the 16 Corporation wards have LDF members.

Vattiyoorkavu constituency comprises the Kudpanakunnu and Vattiyoorkavu panchayats, under LDF rule, and 19 Corporation wards of which the LDF controls 10 wards and the UDF nine.

Of the 20 Corporation wards in Nemom constituency, the LDF has 14 wards while the UDF, the BJP and the PDP share two each.

Reserved constituencies

A quick review of the delimited constituencies shows that a similar pattern has emerged in many other districts too. The commission has taken special care to avoid the clubbing of reserved constituencies. As per the draft proposals, Alathur and Palakkad Lok Sabha constituencies will have the highest representation of the Scheduled Caste population. Hence, Alathur and Mavelikkara, which has the second highest SC population, were made reserved segments. Scheduled Castes constitute the majority in Chirayinkeezh and Attingal Assembly segments in Thiruvananthapuram district.

Attingal and the newly-formed Vattiyoorkavu, which has the second highest SC population, have been made reserved seats.

The Commission has also decided not to split the districts and grama panchayats while delimiting the constituencies. Hence, parts of Muvattupuzha Lok Sabha constituency were merged with the neighbouring Ernakulam and the rest with Idukki. Pathanamthitta and Wayanad districts have got one seat each.

Since the basic units have been retained without being fragmented, it has become easier for MPs to take up development projects.

When spread over to two or three districts, coordination was found to have been rather arduous a task.

But many prominent political leaders have lost their pocket boroughs in the delimitation process.

The CPI(M) leader T.M. Thomas Isaac has lost his sitting seat Mararikulam in Alappuzha. Adoor, which returned the Water Resources Minister, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, and Mavelikkara, which was held by M. Murali, have become reserved seats. Mala, known for its loyalty to the National Congress leader K. Karunakaran and now represented by T.U. Radhakrishnan, Cherppu represented by the CPI parliamentary party leader, K.P. Rajendran, and Vazhoor represented by K. Narayana Kurup also do not exist.

A clear picture of the political strength would emerge after the local bodies elections scheduled for September.

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