NewIndPress

Madikeri (Mercara), May 12: The district bandh called by political parties and organisations in the district in protest against the delimitation of assembly constituencies evoked good response and affected normal life.

Life remained paralysed in the three taluk centres and other major towns in the district.

However, government offices worked with skeletal staff as buses and other vehicles kept off the road. KSRTC and the private bus stands wore a deserted look with only a single bus visible in the bus stand.

Only traffic police and few persons were to be seen in the bus stands. Marriage parties and other emergency services were allowed without any trouble. However, shops and other commercial establishments remained closed.

Tourists visiting the district found it difficult to get food, as they were unaware of the bandh in the district.

In Somwarpet, the bandh was total. Roads were blocked with branches of trees at certain places. The taluk, which is facing threat of elimination following the recommendations of Justice Kuldip Singh Commission, had earlier observed a taluk bandh on May 3.

In Shanthalli, a girl was taken to the Somwarpet Hospital in the press vehicle for treatment. In Mallipatna, Kittor and the border gate at Banavara roads were blocked with branches of trees. Press vehicles were moving freely across the district.

In South Kodagu, all the shops and commercial establishments remained closed. Vehicular movement was low but marriage parties and other emergency services were allowed. Private vehicles were also plying unhindered.

The bandh was total and life came to a standstill in Sreemangala, Kanoor, Kuta, Balele, Ponnampet, Mayamudi and other places, according to reports reaching here.

It may be recalled that the all-party meeting held in Madikeri had called for Kodagu bandh to oppose the proposed delimitation of Kodagu as it will loose one MLA seat (presently Kodagu has three MLA constituencies, based on population and geographical area.)

The Justice Kuldip Singh Commission which recommended the delimitation, will announce it’s interim report on Thursday in New Delhi.

People’s representatives and various organizations have urged the Union Government not to consider population and geographical area as criteria for delimitation as Kodagu is a hilly region.

Kodagu, formerly known as Coorg, was once a ‘C’ State and had 24 MLAs and one independent MP seat too. After the merger with the then Mysore state, Kodagu could retain the three MLA seats and it was joined with Mangalore Parliament constituency.

People in most of the places have expressed their unhappiness and they question as to why the politicians have woke up now and are suddenly calling for a bandh. People in the district feel that appropriate action should have been taken earlier.

Now that the delimitation process has reached its final stage, agitations may not yield required results, they say.