Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that the next Lok Sabha elections would be held on the basis of the Delimitation Commission report, but made it clear that ways and means would be found to hold the polls on the basis of “existing delimitation” in the Jharkhand state.

Dr Singh, who was replying to a specific query from newspersons while returning to Delhi from Beijing on Tuesday night about the Commission report and follow up debate in parties and states, said the Delimitation Commission had completed the exercise with regard to 25 states.

In Jharkhand, several political parties had complained that it would create more tensions because the number of tribal seats was going to be reduced.

Dr Singh said Jharkhand was created to help the tribals “and if we begin the process of reducing the tribal representation in Parliament and Assembly that will be a setback.

So we have to find ways and means so that Jharkhand can go to the polls on the basis of existing delimitation. But for the other 24 states the Delimitation Commission report will form the basis of next Parliament elections”.

Elaborating, the Prime Minister said regarding north-eastern states Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland that “there also the delimitation has not taken place because there were court injunctions and that have been lifted but there are some problems and there also we felt that delimitation need not be pursued. So elections will take place there on the basis of existing delimitation”.