Port Blair, May 07: Just a year ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha elections the DMK today raised one of the most controversial issues of Port Blair city i.e. delimitation of PBMC wards, infront of the Lt. Governor of A & N Islands. The plan was conceived by many agencies in past in different occasions but was never materialize because of elections and other administrative issues. Though delimitation of PBMC wards will benefit a few political parties only in a few wards but a confusion just before 2014 elections will hurt Congress most, it is believed.
In a letter addressed to the Lt. Governor, Mr. A R Marudhavanan today said that in the year 2004 this issue was brought up by the Administration itself but was turned down by the PBMC as the 2005 elections were within 10 months time and such a move at that time would have created confusion among the electorate. It was decided to take up the Delimitation of wards after the elections.
“Till 2007 there was no movement from the Administration and therefore in December 2007 the Municipal council sent a unanimous resolution to the Administration to take up the work of Delimitation. All the ground work was done by the council and a finalised proposal of 24 wards was sent to the Administration along with the resolution. The proposal was turned down by the Administration stating that the Delimitation would be better to be carried after the population census of 2010,” he said.
In his letter he said that this is April 2013 and administration has notified the inclusion often more revenue villages within Municipal Limits.
“It’s a good move as the people living in the adjoining areas of Port Blair are deprived of basic civic amenities. But within the present Municipal Limits Delimitation of wards would bring in all round development. Respected Sir, some of the wards are so large comprising of around 8000 voters and some are Small with just 3000 voters. Just to minimize this disparity Delimitation is required,” Mr. Marudhavanan added.
Though delimitation is a good idea but considering the coming elections and threat of triggering confusion among voters, it is believed that even now the matter will be dropped into the cold box atleast for next few years.
