Bhatkal: A fresh delimitation exercise in Karnataka is likely to reshape the political landscape in coastal Uttara Kannada district, with indications of additional Assembly and Parliamentary seats, sources said.

The proposed restructuring may split the district’s existing Lok Sabha constituency into two, with Karwar and Sirsi emerging as separate Parliamentary segments, replacing the current single seat.

At the Assembly level, reorganization of taluks including Karwar, Sirsi and Haliyal is expected to create additional constituencies. Areas such as Ankola, Siddapur, Dandeli and Joida may be regrouped under a separate segment.

If implemented, the number of Assembly constituencies in the district could increase from the current six to between nine and eleven.

Sources further indicated that the Karwar and Bhatkal seats are likely to be reserved for women. The proposed Sirsi seat may also fall under the women’s reservation category.

The changes, if notified, are expected to significantly impact political calculations ahead of future elections, forcing aspirants to recalibrate their strategies.

At the state level, the delimitation exercise is expected to increase the strength of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from 224 to 338 seats, while Parliamentary representation may rise from 28 to 42. Women’s reservation in the Assembly could go up to around 110 seats, according to estimates.

No official announcement has been made so far.