Regional leaders Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and Sajad Lone up in arms at mention of delimitation process in J&K

Promptly after taking charge at helm of Ministry of Home Affairs, Amit Shah has over last two days held multiple meetings, with sources telling Republic TV of Jammu and Kashmir being crux of deliberations. 

In a recent polity development, sources have told Republic that Home Ministry is considering to amend delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir constituencies, and appoint a Delimitation Commission.

J&K regional leaders resistance 

However, proposal to unfreeze delimitation in state has been revolted by regional leaders- Omar Abdullah of National Conference (NC), PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and Sajad Gani Lone, president of JKPC. 

Mehbooba Mufti stated that she was 'distressed' to hear about plan, furrmore stating that 'forced delimitation' is an attempt to inflict 'ar emotional partition' of state.

In a serial rant, Abdullah tified that freeze on delimitation was done to bring state 'in line' with country and that freeze was applied on entire country until 2026, and t specifically to Jammu and Kashmir. He went on to say that BJP is welcome to apply delimitation to Jammu and Kashmir, however, NC will 'oppose, tooth and nail' any attempt without mandate of people. 

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former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir n comprehensively elucidated background of delimitation of assembly in state.

Whereas, Lone responded on development questioning 'earth-shattering' hurry. 

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What is Delimitation? 

Delimitation process will involve altering scope and size of Assembly constituencies in state and will furr determine number of seats to be reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC).

In aftermath of accession to India, administration of Shiekh Abdullah sliced 43 seats for Kashmir, 30 seats for Jammu and 2 for Ladakh region. However, at present, re are a total of 87 assembly seats with 46 seats in Kashmir, 37 in Jammu and 4 in Ladakh.

As per Constitution, delimitation is supposed to be carried out every decade, although decision could be overturned by Parliament. In 2002, NC president Farooq Abdullah's government froze delimitation process until 2026 by amending Jammu and Kashmir Representation of People Act 1957 and Section 47(3) of Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.

This step will allow Goverr to set up a Delimitation Commission. Modi 2.0 Cabinet is revisiting files that were previously stalled, as per inputs. 

According to sources, high-level meetings are being held ever since Amit Shah official took charge in Home Ministry, along with senior officials including NSA, Home Secretary, IB chief, RAW chief, and Army officials along with Goverr of Jammu and Kashmir Satya Pal Malik.

Throughout election campaign, BJP chief had reiterated that party would abrogate Article 370 and 35A from state, which also found in BJP's manifesto. However, re was confirmation of wher issue was discussed in first Home Ministry meeting.