Congressmen form panel for Vidarbha statehood

By Mahesh Vijapurkar

MUMBAI, OCT. 16. Congressmen seeking to promote the cause of Vidarbha statehood have chosen Mr. N.K.P Salve to head a regional Congress committee independent of the MPCC, and said they would seek Ms. Sonia Gandhi's ``approval by calling on her soon''. According to Mr. Salve``this is our first step towards statehood''.

But, sources said what was done over the weekend was ``something just short of rebellion'' and it easily amounted to a presentation of a fait accompli to the party leaders in Delhi who have been dragging their feet on a separate outfit and the statehood.

Mr. Salve said over telephone from Nagpur that on Saturday the pro-Vidarbha leaders had decided on the long-pending demand for a regional party outfit and to speed up the formation of the new state. ``Unlike in the past when we had a panel subordinate to the MPCC, we want an independent VPCC.'' He said the committee, headed by Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, examining the viability of statehood for Vidarbha had been delaying submission of its recommendations. Congress leaders of Vidarbha had waited ``long enough''.

Mr. Ranjit Deshmukh, former Minister, speaking from Nagpur, said: ``We have picked up the president for our organisation. All those who are involved in the campaign for statehood took this unanimous decision. We will inform Ms. Gandhi about this shortly and seek her authorisation to set up an entire PCC.''

According to Vidarbha Congress leaders, several bigwigs were party to this ``unanimous resolution'' taken at the meeting held at Mr. Salve's residence. Those who attended include: Mr. Vijay Darda, MP, Mr. Vilas Muttemwar, MP, Mr. Nasikrao Tirupude, former Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. T.G. Deshmukh, Mr. Banwarilal Purohit and former MP, Mr. Naresh Pugalia.

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