Shah takes up delimitation of J&K assembly seats in high-level meet

Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a high-level meeting with all Senior Ministers at North Block regarding the controversial issue of delimitation of Jammu and Kashmir assembly constituencies. Shah had earlier met J&K Governor and allegedly raised the same issue.

New Delhi:Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting with several cabinet colleagues at North Block and delimitation of Jammu and Kashmir assembly seats was on the agenda.

According to reports, Senior Cabinet Ministers including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, External Affairs Minister S Jayashankar, MoS in PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh were present in the meeting.

It is believed several key policy matters were discussed and deliberated including the delimitation of the Assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, law and order situation in the valley, Oil export from Iran, Investment in the Oil PSU in India among others.

On Saturday Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Mallik called on Amit Shah at the North Block and had a detailed discussion regarding issues plaguing J&K.

Although none of the officials came on record on what transpired in the meeting, sources said that J&K could witness fresh delimitation of Assembly constituencies.

The last delimitation took place in 1995. The next one was supposed to take place in 2005, but due to the objection by the Farooq Abdullah Government at the time delimitation did not take place.

The present government at the Centre is emphasising on the move to redraw constituencies and determine the seats to be reserved for SC and ST community.