Port Blair, June 23: CPI (M) has demanded to create a separate Lok Sabha seat for Nicobar District, to be reserved for the Nicobari tribals. D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) A&N State Organising Committee, who is currently on a visit to Delhi, today (23.06.2023) submitted a Memorandum to the Home Secretary in which it was submitted that the Nicobars District is the most backward District in the country in terms of overall development, communication facility, education, health, etc. Since independence, several Prime Ministers and other dignitaries visited the Nicobars District and promised its development but such assurances remain as a promise and no developmental work worth the name has taken place for the Nicobar group of islands.

There has been a demand from the people of Nicobars District and others that a separate Lok Sabha seat may be created for the Nicobars District so that the Member elected from Nicobars District can fully concentrate his attention for the overall development of Nicobars District. CPI (M) told the Home Secretary that at present, there is only one Lok Sabha seat for the entire Andaman and Nicobar Islands and it has been noticed that the Member elected from this constituency is seldom available in the Nicobars District. 

It is learnt that the number of Lok Sabha constituencies are going to be increased after a delimitation of the existing Lok Sabha constituencies. If such a process is undertaken, there is an urgent need to bifurcate the existing Lok Sabha seat in the UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, CPI (M) submitted to the Home Secretary. CPI (M) hence requested the Home Secretary to direct the authorities concerned to take necessary steps for creating a separate Lok Sabha seat for the Nicobars District in the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands to be reserved for the Nicobari Tribals, which will pave way for the overall development of Nicobars District.