While its ally BJP has teamed up with some Congress leaders to demand statehood for Vidarbha and called a ‘bandh’ on January 20, the Shiv Sena has decided to launch a campaign on Saturday to counter the demand.
The Sena will send its senior leader Divakar Raote to tour Vidarbha till January 20 in a bid to create awareness among people against the statehood demand. Raote will address rallies, meet Sena functionaries and stage a road show to campaign for a unified Maharashtra.
Raote, one of the aggressive Sena leaders, is scheduled to visit Wardha, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Gondia and Nagpur. He will address meetings in Wardha and Chandrapur on January 16, in Gadchiroli on January 17, Bhandara on January 18, Gondia and Nagpur city on January 19 and Nagpur rural areas on January 20.
The BJP is, however, firm on its stand. “Our party workers and leaders will participate in the bandh as announced, as we favour smaller states,” party spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said. “Our stand on Vidarbha is very old and the Shiv Sena knows about it. Our differences will have no impact on the Vidarbha issue.”
The NCP has extended its support for the Vidarbha agitation. Party state chief Madhukar Pichad has said his party will support the issue and vote in favour if a resolution were moved in the Assembly.
The Congress is yet to make its stand clear. While local Congress leaders are spearheading the agitation, the party has neither taken any action against them nor supported the demand.
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