Maharashtra CM should resign for supporting formation of Vidharba: Raj Thackeray

Mumbai: Slamming Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over supporting Vidarbha movement in the state, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Monday demanded his resignation.

Thackeray said, "CM Devendra Fadnavis should resign, he had supported the formation of Vidarbha in 2013".

Thackeray's statement came as separate statehood demand again gained momentum in the state.

On Sunday, Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti, Vidarbha Pradesh Vikas Parishad and few other organisations during a programme led by former attorney general of Maharashtra Shreehari Aney hoisted flag of Separate Vidarbha state in Nagpur.

The protestors yesterday vandalised government-owned buses in Yavatmal district, breaking their windscreens and setting fire to official documents.

The sloganeering protestors blamed the incumbent state government headed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in coalition with Shiv Sena.

Hoisting of the specially prepared multi-colour flag was seen as a mark of protest against the merger of the then Vidarbha, the Central and Berar into Maharashtra on May 1, 1960.

Vidarbha, comprising 11 districts of eastern part of Maharashtra, was merged with the then newly-formed Maharashtra on this day in 1960. Demands for independent statehood go back several decades.

Vidarbha is one of the least developed regions of Maharashtra which registers an alarming number of farmers' suicides. People of the region believe that separate Vidarbha state would ensure development and solve other problems of the region.

The BJP executive committee in 1987 had passed a revolution favouring smaller states including Vidarbha. However, their key ally Shiv Sena is opposed to a new state.