Indian parties to amend electoral laws

Indian political parties, including West Bengal's ruling Party, have agreed to pass a bill in parliament to amend electoral laws to give voting rights to estimated 14,000 people who became Indian citizens following exchange of adversely-held enclaves with Bangladesh.

 The bill would be passed without discussion and debate to save time as fresh elections in West Bengal state legislature are approaching soon, sources said.

  Two days ago, the Indian cabinet gave its nod to amend Section 11 of the Delimitation Act, 2002 and Section 9 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, allowing the move.

 The budget session of Indian parliament would begin on February 23 while the proposed bill is likely to be introduced on March 1. The term of West Bengal legislature ends on May 29.

 Once passed, the proposed Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2016 will enable the Election Commission to carry out limited delimitation of state legislature and parliamentary constituencies in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal following the exchange of 51 Bangladeshi and 111 Indian enclaves in July last year.