Delimitation step to help BJP: Cong

HARIDWAR: The Opposition parties Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party, Aam Aadmi Party and Uttarakhand Kranti Dal have expressed concern over the delimitation process being carried out for panchayat polls to be held later this year in Haridwar district.

Citing the BJP-led state government influencing the delimitation process to gain political benefit, Congress leaders alleged that the lessening of zila panchayat seats from the previous 47 to the current 44 has been done on the behest of the government.

Congress leader and former zila panchayat chairperson Rao Affaq Ali, in a press conference here, said in the 2015 panchayat delimitation, there were 47 seats while in 2021 delimitation it got curtailed to 45 and now one more seat has been cut down.

“In last zila panchayat polls, the BJP could only win 4 seats. Despite recent assembly poll win, the BJP knows it can win zila panchayat elections. Where Congress was strong those zila panchayat seats have been omitted either merging them with nearby seats or bifurcating gram and kshetra panchayat seats. But the public will give a befitting reply to BJP in these rural polls,” said Ali.

BSP has also questioned the need of carrying out new delimitation this year when last year only delimitation was done for panchayat polls. BSP state president Aditya Brijwal said only to benefit BJP contestants and further delay the panchayat polls, the delimitation exercise was done this year again. “The government and local administration should ensure free and fair panchayat polls.”

Aam Aadmi Party which has decided to contest the panchayat polls is waiting for the final delimitation list to be published later this month to chalk out its election strategy. UKD is also eyeing to contest at least 10 seats in zila panchayat board.

“Baseless allegations are being made by the BSP and Congress. Delimitation is an exercise done neutrally taking into account various factors by the administration doesn’t need to resort to such tactics to gain political advantage,” said BJP district president Jaypal Singh Chauhan.

District magistrate Vinay Shankar Pandey said objections to the delimitation were being listened and acted blockwise.