The Congress-led UPA Government is eager to implement the report of the Delimitation Commission before the Assembly election in Karnataka, despite opposition by regional parties, including UPA constituents like RJD and LJP. With its base among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes dwindling, the Congress wants to implement the Commission’s report that would result in an increase of 13 reserved seats in the Lok Sabha and 68 reserved seats in state assemblies.

“Although these seats may not be significant in terms of numbers, it will send out a strong political message about our commitment to the welfare of SCs/STs,” said a senior Congress leader. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs had on Thursday given its nod to implement the Commission’s report that was submitted in Parliament last month.

Congress sources explained that caste-based regional and political outfits could be the biggest losers because the redrawn constituencies would change the profile of the existing constituencies in terms of caste equations. That is how the Congress fancies a chance for its revival in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

However, some UPA constituents are set to put roadblocks. “Our party thinks that the Commission did not properly follow the directives vis-a-vis geographical aspects. Our party had raised this issue in Parliament as well. The party feels that the current delimitation is not in the best interest of the people of Bihar,” said senior RJD leader Ram Kripal Yadav.

Congress leaders said that the implementation of the Delimitation Commission report could help the party recapture its base in several states. “There would also be an emergence of young faces across the country because redrawn constituencies would unsettle many veteran leaders who have been holding on to particular constituencies for decades,” said sources.