HYDERABAD: In a rude jolt to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the Centre has ruled out delimitation of Assembly constituencies till 2026. This was informed by Chief Election Commissioner HS Brahma to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao when the latter called on him in New Delhi on Friday.
As per the AP Reorganisation Act-2014, the number of Assembly seats in Telangana State must be increased from 119 to 153 and in AP from 175 to 225. KCR met the Chief Election Commissioner specifically to discuss the delimitation issue.
Brahma, sources said, informed him that the Centre was not ready for delimitation of Assembly constituencies in the two Telugu-speaking states separately. “The delimitation process of Assembly segments in all the States will be taken up in 2026. The exercise will be taken up in TS and AP along with the other States at the same time,” Brahma reportedly told the Chief Minister.
The sources further quoted Brahma as saying that the Commission had written to the Home Ministry proposing to start the delimitation process in AP and Telangana but that the ministry replied saying that delimitation was done in 2002 under Article 170 (3) of the Constitution which mandates that the process be undertaken again in only 2026. Sources told Express that the Chief Election Commissioner advised KCR to take up the issue with the Centre when he cited delimitation of SC reserved constituencies in Uttar Pradesh.
But the problem for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is that the AP Reorganisation Act-2014 hasn’t set any time frame for delimitation of constituencies. And even if there is any such reference, the sources said, the Centre could point out that it’s unconstitutional.
Political parties in AP and Telangana have been looking forward to the delimitation of constituencies in the hope of accommodating more leaders as MLAs.
election commission ready but hm isn’t
CEC Brahma reportedly told KCR that the Commission had written to the Centre proposing to start delimitation process in AP and TS but that it replied saying delimitation was done in 2002 under Article 170 (3) which mandates that the process be taken up again in 2026.