Tel CM urges Centre to take up delimitation of constituencies

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today made an appeal to the Centre to take up delimitation of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies citing rise in population.
"I am also appealing from this House to the present Central government. As a progressive government, take up delimitation of Parliament constituencies and assembly constituencies. We have an Act also for doing it for us. They are not doing it. The Centre is delaying," he said.
The Act referred to by him was apparently the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, which states that the number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana shall be increased.

The delimitation of constituencies is a matter that is entirely with the Centre, he said.
"Delimitation of either Assembly constituencies or Parliament constituencies, it is not in our hands. It is fully (with) Centre, Parliament and Election Commission. Mainly, Government of India.
"Government of India means Parliament, because whoever has the majority, they will be in the government. So, it will happen if the government wishes to do it. Wonder why the Centre is not doing it. There is a lot of demand," Rao said.

The ruling TRS MPs would fight on the issue in the winter session of Parliament, he said.

The chief minister said more powers and subjects should be transferred to the states by the Centre, whichever party is in power.
Rao was speaking in the Legislative Assembly on a Short Discussion on 'Administrative Reforms: Emergence of new establishments in the state'.
He said people are happy with the creation of new districts undertaken by his government to take administration to the people. The number of districts rose to 31 from 10 after creation of new districts last year.
"Why this anomaly is coming? Population is increasing. Needs are increasing If we have to reach people, we have to do it. Administrative units have to change...," he said.

Rao also said the government would pass the new Panchayati Raj Act and new Municipalities Act to plug the loopholes in the existing of Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies and to make them function more effectively.
The new legislations would be made in the current session of legislature. The House, adjourned sine die today, is expected to be summoned soon.
"Before closing this session finally, we will enact the Panchayati Raj Act, ULB Act, municipalities act...," Rao said.
Participating in the debate, BJP floor leader G Kishan Reddy, Congress member S A Sampath Kumar and others said they are not opposed to the creation of new districts, but pointed out problems vis--vis employees and others.

Rao said such issues would be addressed.