In a move that has ignited a significant political controversy, the Rajasthan government has executed an overnight redrawing of the boundaries between Barmer and Balotra districts. The decision, coming just before a crucial administrative freeze, has prompted major administrative shifts and accusations of political maneuvering.
Notification Triggers Administrative Reshuffle
A notification from the state's revenue department, dated December 31, became public on the night of January 2, altering sub-divisions and shifting thousands of voters in this sensitive region bordering Pakistan. According to the order, the Baytoo sub-division has been transferred from Balotra back to Barmer. Conversely, Barmer's Gudamalani and Dhorimana sub-divisions have been reassigned to Balotra.
This reorganization leaves Balotra district with five sub-divisions: Balotra, Sindhari, Siwana, Dhorimana, and Gudamalani. Barmer district will now comprise seven sub-divisions: Barmer, Gadra Road, Chohtan, Ramsar, Baytoo, Sedwa, and Sheo. The move is expected to affect approximately 2.5 lakh voters across the impacted tehsils.
Timing Raises Eyebrows and Allegations
The timing of the decision is under intense scrutiny. It comes just as administrative boundaries across the country have been frozen from January 1 due to the Census process, with restrictions set to continue until May 2027. Critics allege the government acted in the eleventh hour to make the order harder to reverse and to shield it under census-related rules. Many link the reorganization directly to future delimitation exercises and electoral calculations.
The current BJP-led government has defended the move, stating it follows fresh recommendations from the Panwar committee. This high-level panel was established to review the 17 new districts and three new divisions created by the previous Congress-led administration, which had carved Balotra out of Barmer as a separate district on August 7, 2023. A revenue department official has denied any political pressure behind the decision.
Political Reactions and Ground-Level Impact
The notification quickly went viral, sparking immediate and divided political reactions. While BJP workers celebrated, Congress members launched protests, labeling the decision as anti-people and politically motivated.
The changes have created complex scenarios in assembly constituencies. In the Baytoo assembly constituency, the Baytoo tehsil has moved to Barmer, while Patodi and Gida tehsils remain in Balotra. Similarly, in the Gudamalani assembly constituency, Gudamalani and Dhorimana tehsils are now in Balotra, with Nokhda staying in Barmer.
Congress MLA from Baytoo, Harish Chaudhary, accused the government of breaking tehsils for political gain, expressing his defiance in a poetic post on social media platform X. Barmer MP Ummeda Ram Beniwal termed the decision a "Tughlaq-like decree." Former minister Hemaram Chaudhary questioned the practicality, stating the shifts do not align with ground realities or public convenience and reported a peaceful protest underway in Dhorimana against the state's decision.
The overnight boundary change has set the stage for a prolonged administrative and political tussle in Rajasthan, with its ramifications likely to be felt in the state's future electoral landscape.
