JAIPUR: Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully Thursday said delimitation is not an ordinary process but a subject that will determine the democratic future of the state and Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s silence on it reflects his inexperience.Jully said that delimitation is an extremely sensitive subject, which will directly impact Rajasthan’s political future and the number of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats. Jully demanded that the CM immediately convene an all-party meeting so that a detailed discussion can be held on the technical and political aspects of delimitation. Jully asked, should the CM not seek the views of all political parties of the state on this serious issue.On women’s reservation, former CM Ashok Gehlot took a swipe at the BJP, crediting Congress for India’s first woman President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and for Meira Kumar becoming Speaker. He added that the BJP has never had a woman national president.Jully said that political discussions on the issue of delimitation are intensifying across the country at present. “CMs of South Indian states are vocal about their concerns, as it will directly affect the number of LS and Assembly seats. In Rajasthan, the reorganisation of seats will completely alter geographical and social representation. It is extremely unfortunate that the Rajasthan govt has no clear stance during such a sensitive time,” he said.Raising questions over the govt’s functioning, Jully said that a BJP govt that cannot even conduct municipal bodies and panchayat elections in the state on time — how can it be expected to handle such a major constitutional change? Weakening democratic institutions has become the priority of this govt, he said.“When the govt cannot even conduct municipal bodies and panchayat elections, how will it strongly present the state’s case before the Centre on a complex subject like delimitation?” he asked.Rajasthan Congress OBC workers protested at Jantar Mantar against the Women’s Reservation Bill, opposing lack of OBC quota for women and its introduction without an updated caste census, calling it unjust.
