By IANS
On Board Air India One : The next parliamentary election will take place in 24 states on the basis of revised delimited constituencies, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said.
Speaking to mediapersons Tuesday night aboard his special flight as he returned from a three-day visit to China, Manmohan Singh said the exceptions would be Jharkhand and the four northeastern states of Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
“I am not sure about the state legislative elections but parliamentary elections will take place in all the 24 states on the basis of revised delimitation as completed and as placed on the table of House.”
With regard to Jharkhand, he said several political parties had complained this would create more tensions because the number of tribal seats was going to be reduced.
“Jharkhand was created to help the tribals and if we begin the process by reducing the tribal representation in assembly and parliament that will be a setback,” he said.
“Therefore we have to find ways and means so that Jharkhand can to go polls on the basis of existing delimitation.”
Regarding the four northeastern states, the prime minister said delimitation had not taken place because there were court injunctions that had been lifted; there were some problems and the feeling was that delimitation need not be pursued.
“So elections will take place there on the basis of existing delimitation,” he said.
Asked if parliamentary elections would take place in 2008 or 2009, the prime minister replied: “I am not an astrologer but I sincerely hope that we will have a chance to complete our full term.”