Sri Vijaya Puram, October 22: Mr. TSG Bhasker, Chairman, Campaign Committee, Andaman and Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC), has urged the Election Commissioner for UTs to adopt a fair, transparent and rational mechanism for the reservation of seats in the forthcoming Municipal and Panchayat elections in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
In a representation submitted to the Election Commissioner for Union Territories, Mr. Bhasker raised concerns regarding the proposed lottery system for the reservation of seats. He requested the Commissioner to consider the previous election history of individual wards and Panchayats before conducting the proposed draw of lots scheduled for October 28, 2026.
Mr. Bhasker pointed out that a lottery-based system that does not consider past election records may not always ensure equitable rotation. In several constituencies, male candidates have been elected for two or more consecutive terms, yet such constituencies may not necessarily receive priority under the proposed lottery system. Meanwhile, other constituencies may be selected despite having a different history of representation.
Emphasising the need for a more systematic approach, Mr. Bhasker has requested that wards and Panchayats where male candidates have been elected for two or more consecutive terms be given priority for reservation. He has also proposed that constituencies which have remained in the general category for two consecutive terms should automatically be considered for reservation in the subsequent cycle.
Mr. Bhasker stressed that the mechanism should provide equitable opportunities across constituencies rather than relying solely on the outcome of a lottery.
