The Chenab Times Foundation has formally demanded the carving out of a dedicated Chenab Valley Lok Sabha constituency covering the districts of Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the Foundation has submitted a detailed representation to the Government of India, the Election Commission of India, and the future Delimitation Commission, highlighting the challenges posed by the existing Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency.
The current Udhampur seat spans more than 20,230 square kilometres across challenging Himalayan terrain, including parts of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban districts, and serves over 2.4 million people. This vast geographical spread and difficult mountainous topography often make it difficult for elected representatives to effectively connect with constituents, especially in remote areas during harsh winters when heavy snowfall and landslides disrupt access.
Anzer Ayoob, President of Chenab Times Foundation and Editor-in-Chief of The Chenab Times, emphasised the need for focused attention on the region’s specific issues. He pointed out that the people of Chenab Valley have long faced diluted representation due to the constituency’s size and diversity.
The demand comes ahead of the next delimitation exercise, expected to follow the upcoming Census around 2027, which will influence the 2029 Lok Sabha polls. The Foundation believes this is an opportune time to present the region’s case for a compact constituency that would better address local developmental challenges such as poor road connectivity, limited tourism infrastructure, inadequate healthcare, and employment opportunities.
Residents in the remote pockets of Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban frequently find their concerns — including power supply, education, and disaster management — overshadowed by priorities of more accessible areas within the larger Udhampur constituency. A dedicated Chenab Valley seat, according to the Foundation, would enable more responsive parliamentary interventions and improved monitoring of central schemes.
The proposal also aligns with longstanding demands for separate divisional status for Chenab Valley. Such measures, the Foundation noted, would enhance democratic participation and promote equitable growth in this strategically important region known for its cultural heritage, linguistic diversity, and potential in hydropower, tourism, and horticulture.
Several other regions in India have secured more manageable constituencies after considering geographical hardships and administrative realities. The Chenab Times Foundation has urged all political parties, Members of Parliament, and Members of the Legislative Assembly from Jammu and Kashmir to support this demand.
The organisation has also appealed to the Election Commission of India and the Ministry of Law and Justice to seek public consultations once the Delimitation Commission is constituted. It has expressed readiness to submit a comprehensive memorandum with demographic data, geographical analysis, and developmental projections.
The Foundation has called upon citizens, civil society groups, panchayati raj institutions, and youth across Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar to back the initiative, aiming to build momentum for policy acceptance. Chenabis have been encouraged to unite in pushing for meaningful representation that integrates the valley more effectively into the national mainstream.
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