If Devgiri, which includes Marathwada and North Maharashtra regions, is carved out as a separate state as per the agenda of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP is set to be the main political party in that state.
Going by the current strength of parties in these two regions, BJP’s chances to gain power will be more than its estranged ally Shiv Sena and opposition Congress and NCP. At present, BJP has 25 legislators out of the total 66 seats from the proposed Devgiri statehood.
The debate on separate statehood has resurfaced after the statement of former advocate general Shrihari Aney and former RSS ideologue M.G. Vaidya, who had stated that Marathwada should be granted separate statehood along with Vidarbha and Khandesh region with a new name — Devgiri.
According to Pramod Bapat, the campaign in-charge of Konkan Prant, RSS has divided Maharashtra into four divisions for organisational purpose. “The Konkan division comprises Konkan and Goa, including Mumbai, Devgiri division includes Marathwada and Khandesh. Western Maharashtra division includes Nashik and Ahmednagar from North Maharashtra region and Vidarbha is the fourth division,” said Mr Bapat.
Marathwada region consists of eight districts — Aurangabad, Jalna, Osmanabad, Beed, Latur, Nanded, Hingoli and Parbhani. Khandesh, however, comprises three districts, including Nandurbar, Dhule and Jalgaon. In the current Assembly of 288 seats, Khandesh comprises 20 while Marathwada represents 46 seats.
In 2014 Assembly poll, BJP won 10 seats, Shiv Sena three, Congress five and NCP and an independent candidate won one seat out of the total 20 seats from Khandesh. In Marathwada, of the 46 seats, BJP won 15, Shiv Sena 11, Congress won nine, NCP eight and MIM and an independent candidate won one each.
BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said his party had a stronghold both in Marathwada and Khandesh. “I do not know what will happen about separate statehood as BJP has no intention to divide Maharashtra, but I am sure, in 2019 Assembly poll, BJP will be the number one party in these regions,” said Mr Bhandari. Senior BJP minister Eknath Khadse reiterated that BJP has no agenda to create a separate state out of Maharashtra. “Even, separate Vidarbha is not in our agenda,” said Mr Khadse.
