In election year, Rajasthan creates 19 new districts; BJP says 'political move'

Rajasthan government's move in an election year received criticism from the BJP, which alleged the real intention behind the decision is to meet "personal political ends".

The Rajasthan government on Friday announced it will create 19 new districts and three more divisional headquarters keeping in mind the demands of the people.

Gehlot made the announcement in the Rajasthan assembly, which also passed the 2023-24 Budget with a voice vote. He said a high-level committee was formed to study the formation of new districts and the state government has received a report. "

"In this way, the state will now have 19 new districts," the chief minister said during a discussion on the Budget. The three new divisions will be in Banswara, Pali and Sikar, he said. For the new districts and divisions, he proposed a budget of Rs 2,000 crore for the first phase of implementation of infrastructure and human resource development. New districts are being formed after 15 years.

Geographically, Rajasthan is the biggest state in the country and some of the places are more than 100 kilometers far from their district's headquarters, and so people face problems, Gehlot said. "Small districts lead to effective administration, management, and control over law and order gets easy. Various states in the country have been ahead in forming new districts. So, there was a demand within the state to make new districts," he said.

The Ashok Gehlot government's move in an election year received criticism from the BJP, which alleged the real intention behind the decision is to meet "personal political ends".

The new districts of Rajasthan include Anoopgarh, which was part of Ganganagar; Balotra (Barmer); Beawar (Ajmer); Kekri (Ajmer); Deeg (Bharatpur); Deedwana-Kuchaman (Nagaur); Dudu (Jaipur); Gangapur City (Sawai Madhopur); Jaipur North; Jaipur South; Jodhpur East; Jodhpur West; Kotputli-Behror (Jaipur-Alwar); Khertal (Alwar); Neem kaThana (Sikar); Phalodi (Jodhpur); Salumber (Udaipur); Sanchore (Jalore); and Shahpura (Bhilwara).

"Many important faces have been ignored in the announcementy of the new districts and now people will have to face administrative complications, BJP leader Vasundhara Raje tweeted in Hindi.

At present, Rajasthan has 33 districts. The last new district was created in Rajasthan 15 years ago by Vasundhara Raje when she made Pratapgarh a district.