KCR's counter to Amit Shah may stall delimitation

Hyderabad: With BJP national president Amit Shah expressing doubts about the benefit to his party from delimitation, questions are being raised whether the Centre will introduce a Bill in the monsoon session of Parliament on the exercise eagerly awaited by the governments of AP and TS. 

The outburst of TS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao against Amit Shah on Wednesday, and the BJP chief discussing the issue with AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday in Amaravati has further fuelled doubts whether the Centre is really serious in pushing the Bill as desired by both the CMs. 

Though Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu is quite firm on hiking the number of Assembly seats as sought by both the CMs, the fact remains that Amit Shah, being the national president of the BJP, will have the final say, considering the clout he enjoys with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During his luncheon meeting with Amit Shah at his residence, the AP CM discussed the delimitation issue and requested him to push the Bill in the monsoon session. 

Increasing the number of Assembly seats requires an amendment to Section 26 of AP Reorganisation Act which clearly says ‘subject to Article 170’. This would have to be modified to ‘notwithstanding anything contained in Article 170’’. 

The question whether a Constitutional amendment is to be brought or a simple amendment to AP Reorganisation Act is enough remains. 

The Attorney-General opines that it requires a Constitutional amendment which means it should be ratified by 50 per cent of State Legislatures across the country.

According to sources, Amit Shah assured the AP CM that he would convene a meeting before June 15 and take a final call on the issue. 

However, he reiterated what he had earlier told a delegation of AP BJP leaders: What benefit will the BJP get if the number of Assembly seats is increased? 

The AP CM told Amit Shah that several legislators had joined the TD and he needed to “adjust” them. This he said, could be done only with delimitation. 

Sources said that Amit Shah then referred to the TS CM’s outburst against him, and observed that there was no benefit for the TS BJP from delimitation while the TRS and MIM will be the major beneficiaries. 

In case the Centre brings in an Amendment, it would be applicable to both the states. 

The sources added that Amit Shah indicated that nothing could be done till elections for the President and Vice President are completed since the Central government doesn’t want to keep all parties across the country in good humour. 

If such an amendment is brought before the Parliament ahead of the Presidential and Vice Presidential polls, similar demands may crop up.