Barmer, Jan. 4 -- The Revenue department's notification reorganising sub-divisions and tehsils between the bordering districts of Barmer and Balotra, before the Census-related freeze comes into effect, has set off celebrations by the BJP and protests from the Congress, with leaders alleging political motive behind the sudden reshuffle. Under the new arrangement, Baytu sub-division has been removed from Balotra and merged back into Barmer, while Gudamalani and Dhorimanna sub-divisions have been included in the newly formed Balotra district. Soon after the notification, BJP supporters celebrated by bursting firecrackers, whereas Congress leaders strongly opposed the move. The timing of the decision is being seen as strategic. From January 1, administrative boundaries across the state have been frozen due to the upcoming Census, a restriction that will remain in force until May 2027. During this period, no changes can be made to district, tehsil, or sub-divisional boundaries. As a result, the current restructuring cannot be reversed until the Census process is completed, and the state government is expected to defend the decision legally by citing Census-related norms. The boundary reshuffle is also likely to impact future Assembly constituency delimitation, as it will now be carried out on the basis of the revised district map. At present, Baytu is represented by senior Congress leader Harish Chaudhary, and political observers believe the change could affect his electoral base. In contrast, Gudamalani is the constituency of state minister KK Vishnoi, making the decision politically sensitive and fuelling speculation about local political calculations. Reacting sharply, Harish Chaudhary protested the move in a post on social media, writing, "Tehsils were broken for political motives. I will neither fear nor bow. I stand with my people-wherever you send me." Congress MP from Barmer parliamentary constituency Ummedaram Beniwal termed the decision a "Tughlaqi system" and said the BJP government's move would push people further away from the administration. Former minister Hemaram Chaudhary also questioned the notification, saying that shifting Dhorimanna from Barmer to Balotra and altering villages in Gudamalani's western and southern areas goes against ground realities and public convenience. Following the reorganisation, Balotra district now has five sub-divisions, nine tehsils and five sub-tehsils, while Barmer district has seven sub-divisions, eleven tehsils and seven sub-tehsils. The Baytu Assembly constituency has also been restructured. Earlier, it included Gida, Patodi and Baytu tehsils. Under the new arrangement, Gida and Patodi will remain in Balotra, while Baytu tehsil has been re-included in Barmer district. Meanwhile, Gudamalani and Dhorimanna sub-divisions have been added to Balotra. While BJP leaders have welcomed the move, the Congress has termed it anti-people and has begun protests against what it calls an arbitrary redrawing of district boundaries. Politically, the reorganisation has triggered significant churn in the region. In 2023, when new districts were announced, Balotra was carved out as a separate district, following which the Baytu Assembly constituency moved into Balotra, and Sindhari was also included in the new district. Under the latest changes, Baytu has been brought back into Barmer, but the Baytu Assembly constituency has been split into different parts, significantly altering its political contours. As part of the reshuffle, Nokhra tehsil of the Gudamalani Assembly constituency, along with Aadel and Magta panchayat samitis, have been included in Barmer district. These districts were created during the previous Congress government, and their original demarcation was widely seen as unfavourable to the BJP. The present move is therefore being viewed as a fresh boundary realignment aimed at correcting what the ruling party considers an adverse administrative and political map. Among all constituencies, Baytu has emerged as the most affected, with its territorial unity disrupted and political equations significantly altered. The changes are expected to play a crucial role in future electoral strategies and constituency delimitation in western Rajasthan's sensitive border region. Political observer Vijay Sharma said, "Under the new arrangement, residents of Dhorimanna sub-division will now have to travel nearly 140 km to reach the Balotra district headquarters, compared to about 60 km earlier when it was part of Barmer district. The move will significantly increase travel time and administrative costs for people seeking district-level services, particularly in the desert border region where connectivity remains limited." Congress district president Laxman Godara said, "The timing of the boundary reorganisation is politically significant because once Census-related freezes come into force, administrative maps remain unchanged for years, shaping future delimitation and electoral arithmetic." He further said, "Administrative restructuring should reduce distances, not double them, and forcing people to travel 140 km for basic district-level work raises serious questions about the government's intent."...