Chandigarh, July 27
Months before the assembly elections, the SAD-BJP government in Punjab today announced the creation of two more districts of Fazilka and Pathankot, taking the number of districts in the state to 22.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal said the Punjab Cabinet, at its meeting today, approved the creation of the districts. This was done on the recommendation of a two-member committee comprising Local Government Minister Tiksan Sud and Sukhbir.

The move is seen as part of the SAD-BJP policy to appease the urban voter. Last week, the alliance had announced a package for urban areas at a function in Jalandhar.

Sukhbir said the newly created Fazilka district would consist of three subdivisions (Fazilka, Jalalabad and Abohar) and three sub-tehsils (Arniwala Sheikh Suban, Sito Guno and Khuian Sarwar). Pathankot district would comprise two subdivisions of Pathankot and Dharkalan and the sub-tehsils of Narot Jaimal Singh and Bamial.

While the announcement was welcomed in Pathankot and Fazilka, it came as a shock to residents and BJP leaders of Batala, who were hoping that Batala would be made a district too. The BJP MLA from Batala, Jagdish Sawhney, told The Tribune that he would take up the matter with the party high command and resign from the Vidhan Sabha in protest, if need be.