A group of leaders from Vidarbha who are Deshmukh loyalists, under the pretext of an agitation, have trained their guns on the chief minister.
The agitation demanding separate statehood for Vidarbha is turning into an ugly battle between the camps of chief minister Ashok Chavan and Union heavy industries minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.
A group of leaders from Vidarbha who are Deshmukh loyalists, under the pretext of an agitation, have trained their guns on the chief minister. On Thursday, the pro-Vidarbha leaders took their battle to president Pratibha Patil in New Delhi.
Former Union minister and MP Vilas Muttemwar, who is close to Deshmukh, said: “Chavan is responsible for fuelling the controversy over Vidarbha. It is his creation.”
Interestingly, Deshmukh has maintained a studied silence on the issue of a separate Vidarbha state.
What sparked the controversy was Chavan’s statement. Chavan said: “There is no unanimity within the Congress or among all the political parties over a separate Vidarbha.” The chief minister from the beginning has taken a stand saying, “Statehood status to Vidarbha cannot be justified at this moment.”
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Manikrao Thakre, who hails from Vidarbha, however, has decided to take a neutral stand. “The party is concerned about the development of the region, but statehood is a matter to be decided by the Centre,” he said.
However, the chief minister’s camp has become quite jittery as the agitation threatens to evolve into a political movement. They have complained to the general secretary of all India Congress Committee (AICC) urging him to rein in the local leaders who are publicly attacking the Chavan administration.
“The attack against Chavan cannot be overlooked as this could be the beginning of regrouping of all anti-Chavan factions within the Congress, under the banner of separate statehood,” said an party insider.
Congress spokesperson Hussain Dalwai said, “The sentiments of Vidarbha leaders cannot be overlooked. There cannot be a dispute about the development of Vidarbha. But separate statehood is not the answer. Those against the statehood status fear it would set a trend across the state. If Vidarbha gets the nod, similar demands may emanate from Konkan and Marathwada for separate statehood and this would lead of disintegration of Maharashtra.”
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