The delimitation in the prevailing situation in Jammu & Kashmir is both a challenge and as well as an opportunity as the apprehensions about an alleged demographic change in the creation of new constituencies for Jammu & Kashmir assembly are rising day after day and above all the trust deficit has touched new heights after the implementation of constitutional changes on August 5, 2019. Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the first step towards reducing trust deficit by inviting the J&K leaders for dialogue mainly over delimitation of J&K assembly, but the apprehensions about an alleged demographic change in the delimitation of assembly constituencies still persist in the hearts and minds of the people in both Kashmir valley and as well as Jammu division. To address the apprehensions of the people about the alleged demographic change in the delimitation of new assembly constituencies, the delimitation panel has to avoid reservation of assembly constituencies on sectarian lines within the muslim majority community in both Kashmir valley and as well as Jammu division with the spirit of neutralising the polarising tendencies fueled by political parties both in Kashmir valley and as well as Jammu division. What matters the most for the delimitation commission would be it’s strict adherence to 2011 census as committed by the Home Minister of the country. Reducing the apprehensions of the people about the allegations of a demographic change in the delimitation of assembly constituencies Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has in an interview on a top new channel in Delhi rejected the allegations of a demographic change in the delimitation process by promising a judicious process of delimitation free from all political interventions. Though Lt Governor has even promised free, fair and transparent elections for the return of popular rule in Jammu and Kashmir immediately after completion of delimitation process, but outcome of the delimitation process would by all probabilities prove detrimental for restoration of the faith of the people in the entire electoral process in Jammu & Kashmir.
While satisfying the people of all regions and religions and people of different sects of different religions would be a challenge for the delimitation commission, restoring the confidence of people in the electoral system of the country after constitutional changes of August 5,2019 is a great opportunity for the commission which would be surely remembered for ever in the electoral history of Jammu & Kashmir.
Delimitation process by all standards of understandabilities has to be strictly as per 2011 census and any deviation from 2011 census won’t give the delimitation process the legitimacy required by it for satisfying people of all the regions and religions and even people of different sects of different religions. Since delimitation of assembly constituencies would mark the beginning of new democratic process in Jammu & Kashmir after the implementation of August 5, 2019 constitutional changes in erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state, the entire delimitation process in Jammu & Kashmir would by all standards of understandabilities also attract the attention of the international community particularly the European Union which amid huge criticism was invited by the central government to visit Jammu & Kashmir for on spot assessment of the ground situation many a times after the implementation of constitutional changes in erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state on August 5,2019. While satisfying the people of all regions and religions and people of different sects of different religions would be a challenge for the delimitation commission, restoring the confidence of people in the electoral system of the country after constitutional changes of August 5,2019 is a great opportunity for the commission which would be surely remembered for ever in the electoral history of Jammu & Kashmir.
