Madikeri: Stage appears set for a confrontation between the community leaders, cutting across political parties, and the State Government with the Delimitation Commission suggesting reduction of one Assembly segment in Kodagu district.

The Kodagu Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), at separate press conferences organised here on Tuesday, said all sections of people, political parties, and community leaders in the district would meet here on May 8 to chalk out future course of action.

Kodagu Janata Dal (Secular) president Voterira P. Aiyappa told presspersons here that the Kuldip Singh Commission on Delimitation would be told not to attempt to curtail one Assembly segment in Kodagu based on population criterion. The opposition would be conveyed through the State sub-committee comprising members such as the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, P.G.R. Sindhia, H.N. Ananth Kumar, and M. Mallikarjun Kharge, he said. The Delimitation Commission is to meet in New Delhi on May 11.

The party had submitted a proposal to the Commission through Mr. Deve Gowda earlier. The Congress leaders too would be taking part in the May 8 meeting, he said.

C.S. Arun Machaiah, MLC, said the Commission ought to take note of the geography of the district not just population. As per the Commission's norms, one Assembly segment could be carved out for a population ranging from 2.10 lakh to 2.35 lakh.

But the population of Madikeri taluk was 1.42 lakh and that of Virajpet was 2,00,700 and Somwarpet taluk was 2,13,000. Kodagu had a zilla panchayat member for a population of 18,000 to 19,000 as against 30,000 in districts such as Dakshina Kannada and 40,000 elsewhere in the State. The Commission should look into these aspects, Mr. Machaiah said.

The Kodagu district BJP spokesman M.B. Devaiah at a press conference warned the authorities not to test the patience of the people of the district by pruning down the Assembly segments to two. Kodagu was a separate Part "C" State in 1952 till its amalgamation with Mysore State in 1956.

If the Commission went ahead with its recommendations, it would be pushing the people of Kodagu to seek restoration of its statehood status, he said. He announced all parties would be meeting here on May 8 to take an appropriate decision over the issue.

BJP Madikeri taluk unit president Ravi Kushalappa spoke. Bandh

Meanwhile, a citizens committee in Somwarpet has decided to observe Somwarpet taluk bandh on Wednesday to protest against the proposed moves of the Delimitation Commission to reduce the number of Assembly segments in Kodagu.

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