A new study report regarding the potential delimitation in Rajasthan has sparked a fresh political debate across the state, while a study group associated with the BJP has suggested increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats from the current 25 to 37. The report recommends a comprehensive restructuring of seats, including an increase in the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), alongside changing the boundaries of several existing parliamentary constituencies.
Proposed Changes in Reservation and Seat Count
According to the report, out of the proposed 37 Lok Sabha seats, 7 seats are recommended to be reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and 5 seats for Scheduled Tribes (ST). Currently, Rajasthan has 25 Lok Sabha seats, of which 4 are reserved for SC and 3 for ST. This significant jump in reserved seats aims to reflect the changing demographic and social landscape of the state. The restructuring could lead to a major shift in how political parties strategize for future elections.
Impact on Key Political Figures
The report suggests redistricting the Nagaur Lok Sabha seat by connecting it with the Didwana-Kuchaman region and reserving it for the SC category. This move could force RLP MP Hanuman Beniwal to search for a new constituency. Similarly, the Baran-Jhalawar seat is proposed to be reserved for ST, which might present a new political challenge for the current MP Dushyant Singh. On top of that, the Jaipur Rural seat is also proposed to be reserved for SC, potentially affecting the electoral calculations of MP Rao Rajendra Singh.
New Opportunities in Bikaner and Dausa
In a significant shift, the report recommends removing the Bikaner Lok Sabha seat from the SC reserved category and making it a General seat. Similarly, it suggests converting the Dausa seat from ST reserved to a General seat. If these recommendations are implemented, Bikaner will see the emergence of new contenders from the general category. For Dausa, becoming a general seat could open up future electoral options for prominent leaders like former MP Sachin Pilot, who has a strong influence in the region.
Geographical Reorganization of Constituencies
The study report provides detailed recommendations for changing the boundaries of various parliamentary constituencies, while it proposes the creation of a new Hanumangarh seat by including the Nohar assembly constituency. For the Rajsamand seat, it suggests adding the Mavli and Vallabhnagar assembly segments from Udaipur. The report also recommends including the Dudu assembly constituency within Jaipur Rural. One of the most notable suggestions is the split of the Jalore-Sirohi seat into two separate Lok Sabha constituencies, with the new Sirohi seat proposed to be reserved for ST, while On top of that, it suggests including the Salumber assembly segment in the Dungarpur seat and separating Bundi from the Kota Lok Sabha constituency.
Strategic Context and Previous Reports
The report mentions that these changes are aimed at balancing the evolving political equations in various regions, particularly to counter the growing influence of the BAP (Bharat Adivasi Party). Previously, a study report by the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council had estimated an increase in Rajasthan's Lok Sabha seats from 25 to 38. That report had suggested the restructuring of large seats like Jaipur, Jaipur Rural, Jodhpur, Sikar, Udaipur, and Banswara but had noted that the seats of many major leaders should remain unchanged. In contrast, this BJP-linked study group report suggests changes in the delimitation and reservation of seats held by several prominent leaders. It's important to note that this isn't the final proposal of the Delimitation Commission but rather the recommendations of a study group. Any final decision on the number of seats, boundaries, and reservations will only be made after the formal process of a future Delimitation Commission.