CM Hemant Soren to align with Stalin
Ranchi: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has expressed its strong opposition to the current draft of the proposed Lok Sabha delimitation, which is set to be implemented post-2026. The JMM has committed to opposing this initiative, labeling the draft as unjust and politically motivated. In order to coordinate their protest efforts, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren is scheduled to attend a meeting organized by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in Chennai on March 22.
During a press conference, JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya raised concerns regarding the motives behind the central government’s proposed delimitation plan. He accused the draft of being intentionally crafted to favor the BJP in electoral terms by modifying constituency configurations in a manner that politically marginalizes the southern, eastern, and northeastern regions.
Bhattacharya criticized the reliance on the 2001 census for the current delimitation draft, deeming it outdated and inequitable. He noted that while Jharkhand’s existing 14 Lok Sabha seats would increase to 24 under the proposed changes, the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) would remain at five, which raises alarms about the potential decrease in political representation for tribal communities.
Referencing other states, Bhattacharya pointed out that Uttar Pradesh’s Lok Sabha seats are projected to rise from 80 to 143, Bihar’s from 40 to 79, Madhya Pradesh’s from 29 to 52, Gujarat’s from 26 to 43, Rajasthan’s from 25 to 50, Maharashtra’s from 48 to 76, Tamil Nadu’s from 39 to 49, Karnataka’s from 28 to 41, and Andhra Pradesh and Telangana’s from 42 to 54.
He asserted, “These ten states alone will account for 647 Lok Sabha seats—approximately 76-77 percent of the total parliamentary seats in the country,” arguing that this redistribution undermines the constitutional principles of regional balance and diversity.
The leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has accused the BJP of designing the entire delimitation draft to serve its political interests. He asserted that the draft is specifically aimed at regions with significant tribal and Scheduled Caste populations, intending to undermine their political power.
Bhattacharya announced that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has convened a joint opposition meeting on March 22 to develop a collective strategy against the delimitation draft. In addition to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Manjhi, who represents a tribal majority, have also been invited to participate in this meeting.
In response to the JMM’s declaration, both the Congress party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have expressed their support in opposing the current delimitation draft. Congress spokesperson Rakesh Sinha accused the BJP of attempting to diminish the political representation of Scheduled Castes and Tribes by reducing their reserved seats. He further claimed that the BJP seeks to advance majoritarian politics by advocating for constitutional amendments under the pretext of delimitation.
RJD Vice-President Anita Yadav voiced similar apprehensions, suggesting that the proposed delimitation draft seems to be crafted with the BJP’s long-term political benefits in mind.
In contrast, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Sinha criticized Congress for its perceived hypocrisy, highlighting that the party had supported delimitation in 2008 when it was in power, a position that now stands in stark opposition to its current stance.
As opposition from both regional and national parties intensifies, the JMM has made its position clear: the party will actively oppose the proposed delimitation draft. The political strategy for this resistance will be determined after the Chennai meeting on March 22, where Chief Minister Hemant Soren is anticipated to articulate Jharkhand’s concerns emphatically.
The results of this meeting are expected to significantly influence the political dynamics in tribal-dominated areas, as opposition parties strive to challenge what they perceive as a biased delimitation process.
