Delimitation Commission constituted for union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has at last presented its final report for reorganizing assembly and parliamentary constituencies in UT Jammu and Kashmir. This report was submitted on 5th of May 2022 wide No. 282/J&K/2022(Vol. IV) shows massive level alteration in the areas and regions of almost all the assembly and parliamentary constituencies. According to this final report the commission has proposed an increase of six assembly seats for Jammu Division from present 37 to 43, while an increase of one seat for Kashmir Division from present 46 to 47. Although there is no change in the number of parliamentary constituencies and it has been kept five but again there are many changes in the regions and areas which have been deleted from one area and have been added to another constituency. Major among these is the deletion of Rajouri and Poonch districts from Jammu-Poonch parliamentary constituency and inclusion of these two prominent border districts of Jammu division with Anantnag parliamentary constituency of Kashmir valley. What does this proposal of Delimitation commission with the approval of the government indicate? Do they want to say or give an indication that Jammu division is now being sacrificed and discriminated by the government of a political party which has always instigated the people of Jammu against Kashmir in the name of discrimination? Now what the union government and BJP will have to say about this surprising move to include two strategically important districts of Jammu with Kashmir valley?  The proposals of these kinds have already been opposed both in written as well as verbally by the leaders and political parties like NC and PDP. Even the people of Poonch and Rajouri are also feeling deceived. Secondly, what criteria have been adopted by the commission to propose the increase of seats is yet to be known, but it is clear that either it has to be the population or the area. This had already been made clear by the Delimitation Commission that the allocation of seats shall be considered on the basis of the 2011 census of Jammu and Kashmir. The population of Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh is more than 1,25,48, thousands. Out of this the population of Kashmir division is more than 68,94 thousands, Jammu Division more than 53,74 thousands and of Leh Division it is more than 2,80 thousands. If the proposed allocation has been made on the basis of population then surely the number of seats should have been increased in Kashmir Valley. And if the proposed increase has been made on the basis of area then Ladakh must have a maximum number of seats. It is also still to be seen in which areas or districts the increase of seats has been proposed. In Jammu division, Jammu district is the only district having population more than 10 lakh while in Kashmir valley there are three districts with population more than ten lakhs. In Jammu Division Kishtwar district is spread over an area of about 7.7 thousands sq. kilometres but has a population of about 2.31 lakh. Kathua district has an area of about 2.6 thousand sq. k.m., but the population is about 6.16 lakh. Though Jammu district has a population of about 15.26 lakh but is spread over an area of about three thousands sq. k.m. In Kashmir Division, the Srinagar district is spread over an area of only 294 sq. k.m but has a population of about 12.3 lakhs. Similarly Bandipora spread over an area of just 398 sq. k.m has a population of about 3.8 lakhs and Ganderbal with population of about 2.97 lakh is spread over an area of 2.59 k.m. So this will be interesting to see what base has been made by the Commission to allocate the seats, area or population? Is the area more important or the public? Will this move of the Commission help BJP to win the assembly elections whenever announced?
