Delimitation worries Rajasthan MPs

Delimitation worries Rajasthan MPs: "Many sitting MPs from Rajasthan are keeping their fingers crossed, as they may not be able to contest elections from their constituencies again.

On the recommendation of the delimitation commission, a number of constituencies will be reserved for SC, ST candidates on the basis of population. The seats are being divided equally, according to population report of 2001 census. However, the government will approve it only after the commission gives its final report in March.

There are seven reserved seats in Rajasthan, which have been shuffled around because the SC and ST population in the seats has changed after the delimitation.

Sachin Pilot, Congress MP from Dausa says that he's still working hard in his constituency, which from now on can be contested only by a scheduled tribe candidate. His father Rajesh Pilot won elections from Dausa for six terms followed by his mother and himself for one term each. One problem Sachin will face is finding another Gujjar dominated seat. Dausa is one of the few Gujjar belts in Rajasthan and the community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status has not yet been met. This may force Sachin to relocate to another state.

Another prominent face, who will lose out his seat, is film star turned politician Dharmendra. He has often faced allegations of non-performance Bikaner, which is also getting reserved for scheduled caste candidates. His wife Hema Malini has been asking him to quit politics and this may just give him just the right excuse. On the other hand, BJP's backward face in Rajasthan Kailash Meghwal will have to shift from Tonk, which now gets de-reserved.

Though an SC candidate can contest from a general seat, this is not a normally followed norm."