Mayawati's plan to divide and rule: Uttar Pradesh may be split in four parts
Ashish Tripathi, TNN | Nov 9, 2011, 02.04AM IST
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati's move to divide the state into
four parts is being seen by her supporters as a masterstroke ahead of
the 2012 assembly polls.
LUCKNOW: UP chief minister Mayawati is likely to announce the
reorganization of Uttar Pradesh, splitting the sprawling state into
four parts, in a move that her supporters are seeing as a poll-eve
masterstroke.
Well-placed BSP sources said Mayawati is planning to carve four new
states out of the country's largest state which, with its 75
districts, is larger than many countries. As per the blueprint, the
eastern part of the state with 32 districts will form a new state of
Poorvanchal while the 22 western districts will be grouped together as
Harit Pradesh. Bundelkhand will take seven districts while the
remaining 14, all in central UP, will comprise the fourth.
Mayawati did not deny the move when questioned by reporters at a press
conference to announce the hike in state advisory price for sugarcane.
A smiling Mayawati said, "It's a big issue but I will not talk about
it today because if I do, you people will downplay the SAP story, a
big pro-farmer step of the state government." This response
strengthened the buzz around the reorganization.
A division of UP has been talked about for long because of the
problems involved in administering such a large area. The state
remains unwieldy even after the hilly region was hived off to form
Uttarakhand.
But the move has gained momentum now because of the impending
elections, with BSP sources hoping that it would set the agenda for
the coming polls, while diverting attention away from the incumbency.
Parties wary of Maya's move to divide state ahead of polls
The hope is not without basis because almost all political parties
have at various times advocated division of the state into smaller
units. Congress has been championing the creation of Bundelkhand on
the ground that its distance from Lucknow has contributed to its
backwardness. The party has not taken a stand on Harit Pradesh, but
will find it difficult to oppose it because its prospective ally Ajit
Singh has made it a battle theme.
BJP, which carved Uttarakhand out of UP, has consistently prided
itself for its commitment to smaller states -- pointing to the
creation of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand in 2000. The party has now
taken cudgels for the demand for Telangana.
Samajwadi Party is categorical in its opposition to the splintering
plan. Its general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav said, "The division will
reduce UP's clout in national politics." BSP sources feel that SP's
opposition will help Mayawati's plan to shape the narrative.
Under the Constitution, the power to create new states is vested with
Parliament. Constitution explains that the bill for creation of new
states can be introduced in either House of Parliament on the
recommendation of the President. If the bill affects the area,
boundaries or names of any of the states, President would refer the
bill to the legislature of the state for expressing its views within a
stipulated period.
The Congress, which is already caught in the row over separate state
of Telangana, is unlikely to reveal its hand. Congress leaders said
the party might support Mayawati's proposal but a final decision would
be taken by the high command. In New Delhi, Congress did not oppose
the move outright, merely saying it should be referred to a new State
Reorganization Commission: a posture which only indicated its wariness
of Mayawati's electoral intent.
Although her timing has been influenced by the looming polls, Mayawati
has kept the issue burning since winning the 2007 elections. She
publicly supported the division of UP while addressing a rally in
Lucknow, and followed that by writing to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
in 2008 and, again, in 2009. Most recently, she raised it in September
while announcing the creation of three new districts in western UP.
Even as bigger players were trying to craft their response, smaller
outfits campaigning for statehood for distinct regions in UP were
already celebrating the prospect. "We are getting support of the
National Federation for New States, which includes outfits fighting
for small states across the country," said Raja Bundela of Bundelkhand
Congress.
Former SP leader Amar Singh also announced that he would hold a rally
on November 13 at Sarnath in Varanasi in support of the creation of
Poorvanchal. Their excitement can only serve Mayawati's objective to
distract attention.
The BJP has been supporting smaller states but has chosen to downplay
Mayawati's proposal. BJP's national vice-president Kalraj Mishra said
the party had always been in favour of smaller states but the decision
to divide UP should be taken after a thorough study by state
reorganization commission.
He also said BSP should make it clear whether it had any specific plan
for trifurcation or was raising the issue only to arrest
anti-incumbency and divert public attention from the corruption and
breakdown of law and order under Mayawati's rule. BJP state president
S P Shahi said, "We will open our cards after the state government
tables the proposal in the state assembly."
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