"The demand for carving out the state of Vidarbha was made soon after Independent but the politicians from western Maharashtra thwarted it...We will stage a sit-in on the Maharashtra foundation day in support of statehood for Vidarbha," he told reporters here yesterday.
He also urged the people of Vidarbha to observe May 1 as "black day".
Dhote also pointed out that while BJP had adopted a resolution backing the demand, its leadership was not pursuing it so as not to disturb the ties with Shiv Sena, which is opposed to separate Vidarbha.
No development was possible unless the region got a statehood, the veteran leader said.
