Imphal, April 03: Representatives of Thoubal District Development and Demand Committee (TDDADC) have met the chairman of the Delimitation Commission retired Justice Kuldeep Singh to present the case of the people living in the seven Assembly segments in Thoubal district as well as in Jiribam Assembly Constituency who do not have the right to contest the Lok Sabha election although they are given the right to cast their votes.

A seven-member delegation of the Committee met the Delimitation Committee chairman on March 22 last and exerted pressure to grant the right to contest the election to these people, said TDDADC president S Roben during a press conference at Manipur Press Club here this afternoon.

Roben informed that the Delimitation Committee chairman retired Justice Kuldeep Singh was fully aware of the demands of the TDDADC.

The TDDADC representatives also met Officer on Special Duty of the Commission Dr Mrutyunjay Sarangi, IAS to present the case of the aggrieved people, ahead of the process for altering the boundary of the Lok Sabha and Assembly Constituencies' slated to begin sometime in May or June, Roben added.

As informed by Justice Kuldeep, there would be no change in the number of the seats in the Parliament or Slate Assemblies till 2026, but the boundary of the existing Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies can be altered based on the census report of 2001, Roben said.

As for the controversy over the census report, 2001 of Mao-Maram, Paomata and Purul sub-divisions of Senapati district, the Delimitation Committee informed that the Directorate of Census would work out the matter within April this year, Roben said.

Roben informed that the Delimitation Committee chairman also gave his assurance of discussing the demands of the TDDADC even if one associate member out of the seven from Manipur in the Delimitation Committee favour it and appealed to all the associate members to extend their cooperation in doing justice to the people of the eight Assembly sections.

The seven associate members from Manipur in the Delimitation Committee are Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, MP Dr T Meinya, MP Mani Charanamei, former Chief Minister RK Dorendra, Power Minister Gaikhangam, TD Minister Phungzathang Tonsing and MPP Legislature leader Dr Nimaichand Luwang.

The other members of the TDDADC who met the Delimitation Committee chairman are Waikhom Inaojuge, Ropendro Leishangthem, AK Memcha, Y Premabati Devi, OK Jiban and Legal advisor K Kiran, who is also an advocate of Supreme Court.

Advisor of TDDADC Lourembam Kesho was also present during today's press conference.

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