Date:04/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/04/stories/2008020454400300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

‘Small States hindrance to development’

Staff Reporter

TIRUMALA: The Chief Minister of Maharastra Vilasrao Deshmukh on Saturday ridiculed the demand for the formation of smaller states and termed it as a impediment towards the development.

Talking to media persons Mr. Deshmukh said that the smaller states have experienced a lot of political instability on several occasions. It is due to this instability factor that several governments have collapsed in many states in the past and the recent political developments in the state of Goa is a fitting example. Moreover it is not the people who are demanding the formation of smaller States, it rather seems to be more vociferous from the side of the political leaders. At the same time he said that it was purely his personal opinion.