Vidarbha statehood a headache for Congress

The demand for a separate Vidarbha state is going to be a headache for the Congress which split Andhra Pradesh without a resolution of the state legislature. While the Maharashtra BJP chief has recently said that his party is committed to the bifurcation of the state, the Congress is divided on it as usual. The Shiv Sena has been consistent on the issue of united Maharashtra but the NCP could open its cards at an appropriate time.

The Maharashtra BJP chief Raosaheb Danve, who is also the sitting Lok Sabha member from Jalna, has recently said that Maharashtra’s bifurcation is inevitable as the BJP is committed to smaller states. This has also been the stand of the RSS whose senior leaders have been demanding a separate Vidarbha state.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who have been the votary of a separate Vidarbha state, have not diluted their stand and the only issue left is of its timing.

In fact, Mr Fadnavis had said recently, “There’s no such proposal (for a separate Vidarbha state). Carving out small states is a subject handled by the Centre.” This does not mean that he is for a united Maharashtra.

While the BJP leaders outside Vidarbha have been maintaining silence on the issue of a “united Maharashtra” after realising that their support to the demand could work against the BJP in Mumbai, western Maharashtra, Marathawada, north Maharashtra and Konkan, in elections.

The BJP’s demand of a separate Vidarbha state is based on anti-western Maharashtra which has been accused of exploiting the resources of Vidarbha. Therefore, the BJP cannot make inroads in western Maharashtra and in Mumbai, the saffron party has never identified with “Marathi Manoos”.

“The BJP could gain Vidarbha but lose Maharashtra,” predicted a senior political leader.

The Shiv Sena, which is sharing power with the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra, is watching the game.

Congress lacks conviction on the issue of creating smaller states. While some leaders say “small states, strong Centre” is an RSS agenda, the party had once demanded setting up a second State Reorganisation Commission. The other day, senior Congress leaders from Vidarbha — Vilas Muttemwar, Nitin Raut and Satish Chaturvedi — criticised former chief ministers Prithviraj Chavan and Narayan Rane and Leader of Opposition in Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil for opposing a separate Vidarbha.

“Chavan, Rane and Vikhe Patil are selfish and do not have any emotional bond with Vidarbha and therefore ignorant of the sentiments of people there,” said Mr Raut.

Mr Madhukar Kimatkar, a senior Congress leader and a former minister, demanded there should be a separate Pradesh Congress Committee for Vidarbha.

“We do not expect to get justice from Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee which is led by people who want a united Maharashtra,” Mr Kimatkar said.