Mayawati writes to PM asking for separate state of Poorvanchal

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking for a separate state of Poorvanchal.

This is the second time Mayawati has written to the PM about Poorvanchal.

"The chief minister has written to the Prime minister today and saidthat for better administration and governance and keeping in mind theneeds of the people of Purvanchal, a separate state of Purvanchal isnow the need of the hour," said Vijay Shankar Pandey, AdditionalCabinet Secretary, UP.

This might be the card that gives Mayawati a firmer footing  in the eastern districts of Uttar Pradesh because:

• Twelve of the 44 sugar mills in Purvanchal have been shut down
• Three cement warehouses are lying shut
• The 22 crore silk industry of Varanasi has taken a beating because of the import of Chinese silk
• The 2000 crore carpet industry of Bhadohi is lying in shambles
• The handloom industry of Azamgarh, Mau, Mubarakpur and Ambedkar Nagar are nearly dead

This is Mayawati's second letter to the PM asking for a separate statefor Purvanchal, but having done little to breakup the state, some arequestioning the motive behind it.

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"Mayawati is happily cutting up the state into as many pieces as herown birthday cake. She is misusing the public money to build statuesbecause she is quite a heartless woman," Samajwadi Party generalsecretary Amar Singh said.

Inspired by the Centre's nod to Telangana, more such demands have already been resurrected in different parts of the country. (Read: Telangana effect: More demands for statehood)

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Earlier, the chief minister had demanded statehood for Bundelkhand and Harit Pradesh. Both the smaller states are sought to be carved out of the state she governs.

Mayawati supported the longstanding demands for these states at a press conference, based on the Central nod for a separate state of Telangana. "I have said clearly that if the Union government gives us the go-ahead we will act swiftly and have this approved by the state Assembly," she said.

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UP, she said, was a very big state, and "as per the demands of the people of Bundelkhand, Harit Pradesh I wish that the Union government adhere to our demands. But this must be done according to the due process of law."

She exhorted people in her state to put forth their demands peacefully and without resorting to violence.

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The process for the formation of a new state is:
 
Step 1: Presidential reference is sent to state Assembly
Step 2: After Presidential reference, a resolution is tabled and passed in Assembly
Step 3: Assembly has to pass a Bill creating the new state 
Step 4: A separate Bill has to be ratified by Parliament