Cong warns against reduction in reserved seats
Former Jharkhand minister Bandhu Tirkey also urged tribal communities to oppose the proposed exercise.
“Today, we must pledge to fight the proposed delimitation. This state was created for tribals, and we will not tolerate any attempt at snatching tribal rights,” Tirkey said.
He alleged that the BJP and RSS wanted to reduce the number of seats reserved for tribal communities.
“If they carry out the delimitation exercise based on the 2007-08 report, we will not tolerate it. The tribals are ready to fight for their rights,” he said.
Tirkey also linked the delimitation debate to constitutional protections for tribal areas, alleging that the exercise could weaken the Fifth Schedule and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, or PESA.
The Fifth Schedule provides a constitutional framework for the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes, while PESA extends provisions relating to local self-government to Scheduled Areas.
The larger political concern
At the heart of the Congress’s argument is the relationship between population, constituency boundaries and political representation.
A delimitation exercise can alter the geographical boundaries of constituencies and, depending on the applicable rules, determine which constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
For Jharkhand’s tribal communities, therefore, the issue goes beyond simply redrawing electoral boundaries. Congress leaders argue that any reduction in reserved constituencies could affect the community’s representation in the state legislature and Parliament.
Tirkey also accused the BJP of using religious divisions to weaken Jharkhand’s social fabric, saying political parties should instead focus on protecting tribal rights.
The Congress has said it will oppose any delimitation exercise that, in its view, reduces tribal representation or undermines existing constitutional safeguards.
For now, the controversy centres on the 2007-08 delimitation framework and what its implementation could mean for Jharkhand’s reserved constituencies. The actual impact will depend on the delimitation process, the population data and the decisions taken by the authorities once the exercise moves forward.
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