Bhopal: In a strategic move ahead of the upcoming electoral season in Madhya Pradesh, the establishment is unveiling a series of new districts. Spearheading this initiative, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has recently declared the bifurcation of Maihar from the Satna district, setting it on course to become a distinct administrative region.
In a statement, Chouhan announced that the procedural undertakings to elevate Maihar, revered as the abode of Goddess Sharda, to district status have been initiated. This follows the recent formation of the Maungj district and concurrent efforts to establish Padhurna and Pichor of Shivpuri district as separate districts. In addition, there is a plan underway to carve out Nagda as a district, segregating it from Ujjain.
These district formations are not unprecedented; notably, a similar announcement was made concerning Maihar in the run-up to the 2018 assembly elections. Unfortunately, due to a subsequent change in government hands to the Congress party, the earlier promise could not see the light of day, stalling even after securing cabinet approval. Currently, under Chouhan’s leadership, the wheels have been set in motion to actualize this plan.
This series of announcements by the BJP government is perceived as a calculated political maneuver, especially given the timing aligning with the election year. Observers suggest that these new districts, predominantly representing areas with Congress MLAs, may potentially tip the electoral scales in BJP’s favor. Incidentally, the areas earmarked for district status host Congress representatives such as Nilesh Uike from Padhurna, KP Singh from Pichor, and Dilip Gurjar from Nagda.