BJP woos Congress voters with new districts, talukas in Gujarat

The chief minister’s announcements about new districts and talukas that are to start functioning from January 26, 2013, are likely to benefit the BJP during the upcoming assembly elections, say political observers.

The new districts and talukas are being seen as an attempt by the chief minister to woo communities such as tribals, Kolis and fishermen who have traditionally been Congress supporters.

The chief minister has so far announced four new districts — Gir-Somnath from Junagadh; Chhota Udepur from Dahod; Aravali from Sabarkantha; and Botad from Bhavnagar — and new talukas in different districts.

Sources in the BJP said that the new districts and talukas will require new administrative set-ups and organizations. This would lead to creation of new posts in the state government as well as in political parties.

The sources further said that creation of new districts will send the message of smooth and improved administration to people of the benefiting regions and persuade them to vote for the party.

“Voters in the coastal belt of Veraval have been given Gir-Somnath while tribal communities have been given two districts — Chhota Udepur and Aravali from Dahod and Sabarkantha, respectively.

The latest district, Botad, is dominated by the Koli community. The votes of this community are the most crucial in the state politics after those of the Patels,” a source in the BJP said.

Government officials are no less enthusiastic about the new districts and talukas. These new administrative units would need new manpower for administration, they said.

“Every new district will need a district collector’s office and a district panchayat office. At the taluka level, new taluka panchayat offices would be needed. At least two IAS officers will be needed to function as District Collector and District Development Officer respectively, apart from other staff,” said an officer in the state secretariat.

The official further said that the biggest political gain for the BJP workers is that the party will have to appoint new district-level office-bearers and in special cells of the party.

“This will help the BJP keep party workers at the district level happy by giving them posts and responsibilities. This will strengthen the party as an organization by the time of the 2014 general elections in the country,” said the official.

Sources said the new talukas would also change caste and community equations at the local level. “Specific castes or communities dominating a taluka will also demand their share of seats in the assembly and at different levels in the party. It is also possible that because of the new talukas, the dominance of a specific community may be diluted in taluka panchayat politics,” said a source.