Delimitation of Assembly seats may not happen

New Delhi: Despite the "media campaign" on delimitation of Assembly constituencies in the two Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the Centre is in no hurry to "push through the issue as it is studying all aspects from every angle".

This was off the record comment of a senior Union minister who dismissed off the reports to the contrary in a section of the media as "sheer speculation and cooked up stories".

Accordingly, it is learnt that though the Union Home Ministry was asked to study the issue in depth and prepare a note on the same, "It is not possible to alter the face of the Assemblies without a Constitutional amendment and hence a Bill would be needed for the same.

Even if a note is prepared and presented to the Cabinet by the ministry in due course, it would take more time to make any moves in the direction."
The minister further added that no meeting was scheduled for Thursday in this regard as speculated by a section of the media.

It may be recalled that there has been intense speculation over the same despite the Centre's assertion to the contrary that delimitation would be possible only after the 2026 census. In between there were reports that a Cabinet note was being prepared in this regard.

That news was widely welcomed in both the States where the ruling parties encouraged defections from the Opposition in good numbers. It was rumored that those defecting have been promised tickets in the next elections as "there would be delimitation anyway".

However, the BJP, per se, has not made up its mind on the issue so far, it is learnt. It is said that Amit Shah would have to take a call on the same keeping in view the party's interests in the Telugu states on which, the party is focusing more now as part of its 'Operation South’ plan.