GEHLOT'S 'MASTERSTROKE' IN POLL YEAR ADDS TO BJP'S WOES

Rajasthan CM's move to create 19 new districts will strengthen Congress' campaign to end the state's tradition of alternating between Congress and BJP every five years.

- AJIT MAINDOLA

In what is being seen as the biggest masterstroke ever by him, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has announced the formation of 19 new districts and three more divisional headquarters. Significantly, the announcement has come just eight months ahead of the Assembly polls of the state.

That’s not all. Distribution of mobile phones to 40 lakh women will start from Raksha Bandhan. In another move to outwit BJP on the Hindutva agenda, Gehlot sanctioned Rs 100 crore for beautification of pilgrim places of Rajasthan. The CM tried to woo all sections of the society during the budget session. After the revival of OPS and Chiranjeevi Swasthya Yojana, creation of new districts is a move that the BJP will be hard-pressed to counter. The BJP cannot even dub the decision as a political stunt, because Gehlot has only fulfilled the promises he made.