2001 census data to be used in ULB polls

The State government has directed deputy commissioners of all districts to follow the 2001 census data while drawing up the lists of reservation of wards for various categories for holding elections to urban local bodies including seven city corporations.

The guidelines issued on Friday state that as the Centre was yet to notify the 2011 census data, the reservation of wards can be fixed as per the 2001 census figures. While the 2011 census figures were likely to be notified in March 2013, the  government was not in a position to wait as the term of most of the 209 ULBs and seven city corporations would end by February-March next year.

The guidelines state that  reservation of wards based on rotation system that is already under practice needs to be followed. Reservation for women be scaled up from 33 to 50 per cent, they said.

The reservation for SC and ST seats shall be on the basis of their population, they said. After fixing quota for SCs, STs, BC-A, BC-B categories, the other seats should be polled as “general category.”