CM sings different tune on Vidarbha

Differences seem to persist within Maharashtra Congress as well as in government over the question of separate Vidarbha. Just days ago, MLA from Nagpur north and Maharashtra EGS minister Nitin Raut had made obvious his support to the idea of Vidarbha statehood. On Wednesday, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who hails from Karad in western Maharashtra, made his opposition to the idea equally plain.

Speaking to reporters, Chavan said he did not subscribe to the argument that creating smaller states made them develop faster. "It is not necessary that smaller states function better. There are cases where there has been no great development even in smaller states. Splitting a state is not the solution for the problem. Proper development and planning can make a lot of difference," he said.

Chavan's statement would come as a dampener for those raising the demand for a separate Vidarbha state. While BJP has fully supported the statehood for the region, Congress leaders from the Vidarbha offer muted support owing to pressure from party High Command. The saffron alliance partner Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has always opposed the demand. The cry for a separate Vidarbha state has grown louder in past few years particularly after the centre acceded to the demand of separate Telangana.

Raut had stated that congressmen from the region would continue to pursue the matter of statehood within the party through democratic means. In fact, this year in September, Congress leaders like Vasant Sathe and former minister Vilas Muttemwar met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to demand a separate Vidarbha. Those who want a separate state have said that the region needed special care and was currently not receiving any sort of development. To buttress their point they cited the suicides of more than 40,000 farmers in past five decades, the huge backlog in every sector, neglect of Naxal problem, continuing malnutrition deaths in Melghat etc showing neglect within Maharashtra.

In a veiled reference to the demand for a separate Vidarbha, Chavan said he was committed for ensuring regional balance and social justice. "States cannot depend on the central funds for the development. Every state has to have its own resources. If you go into details of the planning commission reports then one will understand that the development trough the central funds is very minimal in comparison to the funds given by the state government," he pointed out.

Meanwhile, replying to a query on induction of tainted ministers in his cabinet, Chavan said, "In coalition government one has to adjust. If one cannot stop tainted ministers from getting the berth into the council of ministers, one can always keep close watch on such people."