Telangana spurs demand for 9 new states

New Delhi: With the Centre agreeing to the creation of a separate Telengana state, its hands are full with demands of at least nine other new states, including Mithilanchal in Bihar, Coorg in Karnataka and Saurashtra in

Gujarat.

Home Ministry officials said the demands were mostly received from political parties and organisations like Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) and some individuals.

After conceding the demand of one of the most vocal organisations - Telengana Rashtra Samiti - for creation of Telengana state, comprising Telengana region in Andhra Pradesh, the Centre may encounter fresh demands of GJM, which has been putting pressure to carve out Gorkhaland state out of Darjeeling and its adjoining areas in West Bengal.

The demand for creation of Bundelkhand state, comprising districts like Banda, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Sagar of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have been pending for long with the ministry, an official said.

Though no state government has given any recommendation, which is mandatory for carving out a new state, the demands continue to pour in.

A demand for creation of Bhojpur state comprising areas of Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar has also been received by the Ministry.

"When Telangana's demand has come to the forefront, there are many such regions like Vidharbha whose demand for a separate state might come up. It's not about our personal opinon. The demand for Vidarbha is very old. Whatever decision the Congress high command will take, we will see that it is followed through" — Heavy Industies Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to CNN-IBN

Another demand for creation of a new state comprising Saurastha region of Gujarat, one of the most prosperous states in the country, has also been pending with the Ministry for several years now.

The Centre has received representations for creation of Harit Pradesh or Kisan Pradesh consisting several districts of Western Uttar Pradesh, the official said.

Ajit Singh-led RLD may intensify its agitation for the Harit Pradesh after getting encouragement from the Telengana movement.

The Home Ministry has also received demands for creation of Mithilanchal or Mithila state comprising districts of Northern Bihar, a new Greater Cooch Behar state out of parts of West Bengal and Assam, a Vidarbha state in Maharashtra and a state for the Coorg region of Karnataka.

However, no decision has been taken by the Home Ministry in any of these representation for creation of new states.

"Government takes decision on the matter of formation of new states after taking into consideration all relevant factors. Action by the government would depend on the need and general consideration," the official added.