The recent creation of the Vav-Tharad district carved out of Banaskantha in Gujarat, has sparked protests, particularly from the Opposition Congress. They have criticized the BJP-led state government for failing to consult local groups before making this decision.

Congress has been vocal in its opposition to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel over the issue, as Banaskantha remains one of the party’s strongholds in an otherwise BJP-dominated state. In the 2017 state Assembly elections, Congress secured six out of the nine seats in the undivided Banaskantha district. Despite a poor performance in the 2022 elections, Congress still won four of these seats. However, the party lost one of these seats in the recent by-polls to the BJP.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress managed to win only one seat in the state—Banaskantha—while the BJP claimed the remaining 25 seats. The Banaskantha parliamentary seat is currently held by Congress’s Geniben Thakor.

In defense of the decision, the BJP government argued that splitting Banaskantha was for the “larger public interest.” Gujarat Minister Rushikesh Patel explained that Banaskantha was the second-largest district by area and the largest by population, with 14 talukas. The division, he said, would shorten travel distances for people living in the interior regions, ensuring easier access to administration and reducing transportation issues.

Additionally, the state government announced the creation of nine new municipal corporations in various regions of Gujarat, including Morbi, Surendranagar, and Porbandar in Saurashtra; Anand and Nadiad in Central Gujarat; Gandhidham in Kutch; Mehsana in north Gujarat; and Vapi and Navsari in South Gujarat.

Of the 14 talukas in the undivided Banaskantha, eight will now form the new Vav-Tharad district, while the remaining six will stay within Banaskantha. However, the decision has faced opposition, particularly from three talukas—Dhanera, Kankrej, and Deodar—that have been transferred to Vav-Tharad. Protesters are demanding that these areas remain with Banaskantha, citing their historical and logistical ties to the district’s headquarters in Palanpur.

Nathabhai Patel, former Congress MLA of Dhanera and a key figure in the protests voiced opposition to the inclusion of Dhanera in the new district, arguing that social and educational dealings are closely linked to Palanpur, not Tharad. He further announced a bandh in Dhanera to oppose the move.

In Kankrej taluka, some residents have even called for the taluka to be reassigned to Patan district, given its proximity to Patan. MP Geniben Thakor also criticized the division, arguing that the new district, being along the Indo-Pak border, is likely to be neglected by the state government.

A senior BJP leader suggested that the division of Banaskantha district and the formation of new municipal corporations could be part of a strategy to highlight development under CM Patel. Smaller districts, the leader argued, allow for better administration and accessibility for residents, reducing transport time and expenses. This could also serve as a key selling point for the BJP in upcoming elections.

The district reorganization has caused delays in the local body elections for Banaskantha district, including elections for the district panchayat, 14 taluka panchayats, and various village panchayats. Initially postponed due to issues related to OBC quotas, the elections will now be further delayed until the delimitation and allocation of administrative resources are completed.