TIRUPATI: The Delimitation Commission in its draft proposals for Chittoor has reportedly initiated far-reaching changes in the district. The proposals broadly indicate that out of the present 15 constituencies in the district, four politically-sensitive ones would vanish while three new segments would replace them.

The four put on the chopping block are Chandragiri, Puttur, Vayalpadu (Valmikipuram) and Vepanjeri.

`Powerful' slots

Barring the last segment, the rest are general seats and are currently held by players who are in the on-going race for the Cabinet berth. The Vayalpadu incumbent, N. Kirankumar Reddy is already the party's Chief Whip while the Puttur and Chandragiri seats are held by the Congress spokesperson, G.M.K. Naidu and Galla Aruna-- both vying for ministership.

In the place of the four outgoing segments, the commission has carved our three new ones: Tirumala, Puthalapattu and Gangadhara Nellore and the last two are made reserved seats. Interestingly, though a new segment is created with the name `Tirumala', it would not cover Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara but would encompass Chandragiri, Pakala, Ramachandrapuram, Chinnagottigallu, Yerravaripalem, Tirupati (rural) and peripheral villages of Tirupati like Mangalam and Chennayagunta.

The Tirumala hills would however continue to stay with the Tirupati Assembly segment which would become a compact urban constituency almost co-terminus with the municipal/corporation territory.

With four deletions and three additions, the total number of constituencies in the district would come down to 14.

The reserved segments would continue to be three though reshuffled.

Palamaner would become general seat.

The changes mooted have already sent shock-waves among the key political players.

Reports also indicate that for the purpose of delimitation the Commission had gone by the draft proposals originally submitted by the district Collectors and had ignored the proposals subsequently submitted by the political leaders, mostly those who were irked either by the total removal of their constituencies or by their getting truncated in the wake of the shuffling.

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