THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The recent addition of six new wards in the Kazhakootam constituency in the draft for ward delimitation has sparked widespread outrage among the opposition parties in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
Kazhakoottam - a fast-growing urban area touted as the emerging satellite city of the state capital - had around 22 wards under its constituency and the addition of new wards has irked the opposition parties who allege that the new wards cover areas where the CPM- led LDF has a strong vote base, potentially giving the ruling party an edge in the upcoming LSG elections.
As per the current population and number of households, each ward in the city corporation should have around 4,500 houses. The delimitation process was done to add one more ward under the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
KPCC member J S Akhil, who hails from Kazhakoottam, said that the ward boundaries were demarcated in an unscientific manner. After delimitation, nine new wards were formed under the corporation - Kizhakkumbagam, Chenkottukonam, Karyavattom, Kariyam, Alathura, Kuzhivila, Ramapuram, Gowreesapattom and Karumam.
“Natural boundary rules were not followed and the entire process was done without any study. Ideally they should have formed a committee having representation from all political parties. They have cut down the number of coastal wards and many Congress-dominated wards have disappeared. The ward delimitation was done in such a manner to ensure that the LDF and BJP get their share of seats during elections.
The entire process is rigged and we have filed a petition with the ward delimitation commission and the party has decided to move the High Court if the issue is not resolved in the hearing conducted by the commission,” said J S Akhil.
The coastal communities, and church groups in the coastal belt have come out with stiff protests against the draft. The Congress has formed Perunthanni Ward Samrakshana Samiti demanding to reinstate Perunthanni ward which was removed after the delimitation.
BJP district president V V Rajesh said,“Adding six new wards in Kazhakootam was a strategic move. Kazhakootam constituency is an LDF-dominant constituency. The asset register submitted by the corporation for delimitation was incorrect and manipulated. There is a lot of discrepancy in the process and we have given our petition to the delimitation commission and if it is not resolved we will also move court,” said V V Rajesh.
However, the LDF leadership has denied any such manipulation. CPM district secretary V Joy said that the delimitation process was done in an objective and confidential manner. “We have come across many issues in the marking of boundaries. In many places, the natural boundary rules were not followed and we have also filed a petition with the ward delimitation commission,” said V Joy. In response, V Joy said that they can also raise their petitions before the ward delimitation commission.