Hyderabad : Consensus eludes political parties and the Delimitation Commission over altering the geographical contours of nearly 200 Assembly segments.

There is a broad understanding between them on 96 segments so far and future deliberations between members of the commission with associate members (MPs and MLAs from the State) may lead to a consensus in 180 Assembly constituencies.

Members' argument

The Congress, the TDP and the TRS members in the commission have met thrice in the recent past and completed deliberations on Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Cuddapah, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Nalgonda and Adilabad. But, the discussions on Warangal remain incomplete.

Administrative convenience, communication facilities and people's convenience dominate the argument of associate members in seeking either retention of the existing boundaries or alterations to some.

Bigwigs to be hit?

Ministers and several prominent leaders will be among those going to be affected in the next elections by this exercise.

As per the commission's proposals, Balkonda, a constituency represented by Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy will cease to exist with its mandals getting merged with other segments like Armoor.

Likewise, Minister for Agriculture N. Raghuveera Reddy, who represents Madakasira in Anantapur, may have to shift because this is also set to merge with others.

Parvathipuram represented by Minister for Forests S. Vijayarama Raju may become an SC constituency and the present SC constituency, Allavaram in East Godavari, represented by Minister for Animal Husbandry is set to become a general one.

The segment of Minister for Mines and Geology Sabitha Indra Reddy is also proposed to be reserved for SCs.

In all, the number of Assembly constituencies reserved for SCs will go up from 39 to 48 and those for STs from 15 to 19 after completion of the exercise.

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