Maharashtra polls: Shiv Sena, other parties turn up the heat on BJP for supporting the demand forVidarbha

NAGPUR: For at least a decade now, the demand for creating a separate Vidarbha state has not been a major election issue. But barely 10 days before Maharashtra goes to polls, the contentious demand has suddenly been revived. Senior leaders from all parties who were so far discreet about it, have turned up the heat during the last phase of the campaign by directly or indirectly opposing the demand, thereby challenging the BJP which is the lone party that continues to openly support the cause.

In the past couple of days, through separate statements made during the campaign in this easternmost region of the state, all the three Pawars—Sharad, Ajit and Supriya—wondered aloud if there was any public support for creating a separate state for Vidarbha.

"The decision on separate statehood is not for political leaders to make. Blood was shed for creation of Maharashtra. I do not think people of Vidarbha are in favour of a separate state for themselves. However, if people of Vidarbha give a mandate in favour of separate statehood, we will honour it," SharadPawar said.

On his part, in rally after rally, Uddhav Thackeray has been targeting ex-ally BJP for allegedly conspiring to "split Maharashtra". This is in sharp contrast to the tone and language used by most of the same political leaders— save for the Shiv Sena and MNS which have consistently opposed the demand— when the Telangana state was formed early this year.

RPI (Athavale) leader Ramdas Athavle had joined local leaders along with senior BJP and NCP leaders who issued sympathetic statements for creating Vidarbha. According to Rambhau Nevale, convenor of the Vidarbha state agitation committee, "The leaders have always played on the people’s sentiments. They make such postures from time to time, but never ensure the demand is taken up seriously. This time, since they are not making this their chief election plank, we are campaigning in favour of NOTA button since we do not trust even the BJP."