Jammu : Countering People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti’s allegations that everything was preplanned, the Delimitation Commission on Friday said nothing was preplanned and had it been, they would not have visited Jammu and Kashmir to meet different sections. “Nothing is preplanned and had it been we would not have come to interact with people in Jammu and Kashmir,” said Sushil Chandra, Chief Election Commissioner, (CEC) during a press conference here on the fourth and last day of their visit to the Union Territory. Chairperson of the commission, Justice (Retd) Ranjana Prakash Desai, Deputy Election Commissioner Chandra Bhushan, State Election Commissioner, K K Sharma and Chief Electoral Officer, Hridesh Kumar were also present. “We met 800 people in 290 groups and for that we have constitutional mandate,” said the CEC. The Chairperson Justice (Retired) Ms Desai on boycott of Delimitation Commission by the PDP, said, “we can only interact with those who wanted to meet us, participate in the process and those who didn’t come, what we can say about them.” “This is our first visit to J&K and assure you, this is not the last, will come again to know the viewpoint of many more,” she said. The Chairperson said, “we will be able to complete delimitation process in fair transparent and judicious manner.” Mr Chandra further said, “a draft of Delimitation Commission will be prepared after the consultation of all associate members.” “The draft will be put in public domain for comments and consensus and only after that the final draft will be made,” said the CEC. He said opportunity to engage public at large will be given. On demand for justice to Jammu region, the CEC added, “for us Jammu and Kashmir is one. Delimitation will be done on 2011 census. Geographical compactness, topography will also be looked into.” The Delimitation Commission also said 24 seats of PoK will remain vacant and not be included in this Delimitation. The Commission also expressed that they were overwhelmed with the participation in the exercise. UNI VBH SY 1449
