The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet today approved the proposal to divide the state into four separate parts for speedier economic development and better administration. State chief minister Mayawati said the proposal would be tabled in the forthcoming winter session of Assembly starting November 21 for its passage. The proposed four regions are Purvanchal (east UP), Bundelkhand, Awadh (central UP) and Paschim Pradesh (west UP).
She said UP was not only one of the largest states in terms of geography, but also the most populated state. With almost 200 million people and 16 per cent of population, UP has the country’s largest population and has a total geographical area of 2,40,928 sq km. She added, UP had given the maximum number of prime ministers to the country, but they all had failed to contribute to its development.
The move is apparently aimed at wooing electorate in these specific regions, before the Assembly polls next year. Political pundits say the move is aimed at diverting attention of people from issues of corruption and law and order, besides countering anti-incumbency in the election year.
While, the demand for a separate Bundelkhand state has always been shrill, several political leaders, notably Rajya Sabha member and former Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh have been raising the issue of a separate Purvanchal. Both the regions are economically backward.
Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) has long been an advocate of a separate Harit Pradesh in west UP to fulfil the regional aspirations. “My government has always supported the idea of smaller states and administrative units for better governance, which explains the creation of new divisions, districts and tehsils during my successive tenures,” Mayawati told the media while espousing the cause of restructuring of UP.
She claimed the Centre should have cleared the proposal of dividing UP into smaller units in Parliament and later forwarded it to the UP Asssembly, but since it had not been done, her government had taken the initiative.
Mayawati said UP had given the maximum number of prime ministers to the country, but they all had failed to contribute to its development.
“We had demanded Rs 80,000 crore development package from the Centre. I even met the prime minister and wrote him a series of letters, but nothing has been done,” she lamented.
