Cong seeks Sonia support for Vidarbha

NAGPUR, May 14: Congress leaders from Vidarbha region have sought the support of party president Sonia Gandhi for restoration of statehood to Vidarbha and also for formation of a separate Vidarbha Pradesh Congress Committee.

In a memorandum submitted to her, party leaders from Vidarbha referred to major events that had taken place at time of reorganisation of states on linguistic basis. The States Reorganisation Commission had recommended formation of Vidarbha as a separate state. But the then Congress leaders accepted a proposal from party high command for merger of Vidarbha with composite state of Maharashtra for political reasons.

At that time, leaders from Maharashtra assured that developmental interests of Vidarbha region would be protected in Maharashtra state.