The next general elections will be held in constituencies redrawn by the delimitation exercise, as per a decision taken by the Union Cabinet on Thursday.
The Cabinet adopted an ordinance to defer the delimitation exercise in Jharkhand and four north eastern states-- Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
Briefing reporters, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said that the government has accepted the delimitation exercise.
"Only Jharkhand has been segregated from it. Other states where delimitation has been carried out has been accepted and this would be made into a law and signed by the President after which it will be notified. Based on that, the elections will be held," he said.
On whether the next general elections will be held in the redrawn constituencies, he said, "This is not our responsibility, but the Election Commissions'. I am saying that the government has accepted the report. It will be implemented".
The delimitation process has been completed for 3,726 assembly constituencies and 513 Lok Sabha constituencies. For it to become operational in time for the 2009 general elections, a Presidential order has to be issued.
The amendments to the Delimitation Act, 2002, approved by the Cabinet, would take care of the concerns expressed by the delimitation exercise in the four North Eastern states of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh due to the situation prevailing there, Dasmunsi said.
He said that the ordinance would be placed in Parliament during the budget session.
