CDC hands over report to govt, recommends 165 constituencies for parliamentary election

Kathmandu / Aug 30: The Electoral Constituency Delineation Commission (CDC) on Wednesday handed over a report to the government carving out 165 electoral constituencies for the election of House of Representatives and 330 constituencies for the election of provincial assemblies.

Among the 165 electoral constituencies, 78 are in 20 districts of Tarai. This is 47.27 percent of the total area.

At a time when the Madhes-based parties have been demanding 51 percent electoral constituencies on the basis of population in Tarai districts, this demarcation will have one percent less representatives compared to the past.

Earlier, when there were 240 electoral constituencies, 48.33 percent was from Madhes with representatives from 20 districts.

Province 1 has 28, Province 2, Province 3, Province 4, Province 5, Province 6 Province 7 has 32, 33, 18, 26, 12 and 7 electoral constituencies respectively for the election of House of Representatives.

Kathmandu has highest 10 electoral constituencies, Biratnagar has 6 and Rupendahi and Kailali have 5 constituencies each.

Eight districts of Province 2 have 4 constituencies each.

Article 286 (5) of the constitution says: While determining election constituencies, the CDC shall determine the constituencies, having regard to population and geography as the basis of representation, so as to ensure that the ratio between the geography, population and number of members of such electoral constituencies is equal, so far as practicable. Clause 6 of the same Article says: While delimiting constituencies, regard must be had to, inter alia, the density of population, geographical specificity, administrative and transportation convenience, community and cultural aspects of the constituencies.

The five-member CDC led by former Supreme Court justice Kamal Narayan Das has taken into consideration the constitutional provision of carving out 165 constituencies, downsizing the number from the existing 340, on the basis of geography and population.

No questions can be raised against the CDC in court on any matter relating to delineation. Further, the election constituencies delineated can be reviewed every twenty years.ekantipur