The games that politicians play for their own benefit or convenience are finding newer domains with the JD(S)-BJP coalition government hurriedly announcing the formation of two new districts – Ramanagara and Chickballapur. The state cabinet has given its seal of approval on carving out these two districts from Bangalore Rural and Kolar respectively, taking the total number of districts to 29. After all the formalities of receiving objections from the public are completed, they are likely to come into existence on August 15. The fact that Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar – whose ministry should have vetted the proposal in the first place -- was not even taken into confidence before the subject was brought before the council of ministers speaks volumes about the ad hoc manner in which the decision was taken and bulldozed through the cabinet.
Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who represents Ramanagara in the assembly, was obviously keen on “gifting” the electorate with district status for his constituency before he lays down office in October. Unlike Chickballapur, from where some voices were being heard about the need for a district as some of the taluks on the border of Andhra Pradesh are far removed from Kolar, there was not even a demand from the people of Ramanagara for a district. But the chief minister hastily constituted a district reorganisation committee to rubber-stamp his desire to accord district status on Ramanagara and perhaps added Chickballapur to the list to give his decision a veneer of impartiality. But the decision would have made some sense if the government had considered the issue of district reorganisation in totality and worked for a consensus on bifurcation of two much larger districts – Gulbarga and Belgaum -- which has been pending for a long time.
The politics behind the decision on the new districts is also evident from the fact that while Ramanagara is already abuzz with building activity – the district office is supposedly getting a five-star look – Chickballapur appears like a poor cousin, with the government yet to identify the land for various offices. Though the people in these two districts may find some relief in not having to travel far for administrative work in future, it is debatable whether the initial and recurring costs for the government can be justified. What would  appeal to the people and make them happy is quicker attention to their problems and better civic amenities, more than such grandiose exercises in expanding government infrastructure.