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Why Divide Uttar Pradesh Into Four States? History, Plans
Uttar Pradesh is a very large state with many different regions.
Some politicians want it divided into four smaller states.
The suggested regions are Purvanchal, Awadh Pradesh, Bundelkhand and Paschim Pradesh.
Om Prakash Rajbhar says this division will eventually happen.
He also wants a Rajbhar community leader to become Chief Minister of Purvanchal.
Mayawati’s government formally proposed the division in 2011.
That proposal did not move forward after a new government came to power in 2012.
Supporters believe smaller states would be easier to manage.
Opponents say creating new states could be expensive and would not automatically solve inequality.
Om Prakash Rajbhar called dividing Uttar Pradesh into four states inevitable ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Rajbhar said any future alliance must accept a Rajbhar-community Chief Minister for the proposed Purvanchal state.
The proposed regions are Purvanchal, Awadh Pradesh, Bundelkhand and Paschim Pradesh, also called Harit Pradesh.
Mayawati’s government passed a 2011 Assembly resolution seeking the division, but it was not pursued after 2012.
Supporters cite easier administration, while opponents point to financial, institutional and development-related complications.
- Who
- Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief and Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar revived the proposal, while the earlier formal resolution was passed by Mayawati’s government.
- What
- The proposal is to divide Uttar Pradesh into four states: Purvanchal, Awadh Pradesh, Bundelkhand and Paschim Pradesh.
- Where
- The proposal concerns Uttar Pradesh, with Bundelkhand extending into neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.
- When
- Rajbhar raised the issue ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections; Mayawati’s government passed its resolution in 2011.
- Why
- Supporters say Uttar Pradesh is too large to administer effectively and that smaller states could improve governance; opponents cite financial and institutional complications.
Supporters of Division
Opponents of Division
Administration and development
Supporters of Division
Smaller states would be easier to administer and could better address the different economic, geographic, agricultural and migration patterns of Uttar Pradesh’s regions.
Opponents of Division
Statehood alone would not necessarily resolve development disparities and could create financial and institutional complications.
Political control of Purvanchal
Supporters of Division
Om Prakash Rajbhar argues that the Rajbhar community’s voting strength in eastern Uttar Pradesh justifies requiring a Rajbhar Chief Minister for a future Purvanchal state.
Opponents of Division
The article does not identify a specific opposing leader or party position on Rajbhar’s condition.
Feasibility of regional boundaries
Supporters of Division
The four-region framework reflects commonly recognized geographic and socio-cultural divisions within Uttar Pradesh.
Opponents of Division
Bundelkhand also extends into Madhya Pradesh, making the creation of a separate Bundelkhand state more complicated.
Key facts
- Proposed regions
- Purvanchal, Awadh Pradesh, Bundelkhand and Paschim Pradesh or Harit Pradesh.
- Latest political advocate
- Om Prakash Rajbhar, an Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister and ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.
- Rajbhar’s condition
- He said a future alliance must accept a Rajbhar community leader as Chief Minister of Purvanchal.
- Earlier proposal
- B. R. Ambedkar suggested dividing Uttar Pradesh into three states in 1955.
- 2011 resolution
- Mayawati’s government passed an Uttar Pradesh Assembly resolution proposing four states.
- Current Assembly size
- Uttar Pradesh has 403 Assembly seats, the highest number among Indian states.
- Constitutional process
- Article 3 allows Parliament to create or alter states after the President refers the proposal to the affected state legislature for its views.
Quotes
Om Prakash Rajbhar
Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief and Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister
“The division of the state is inevitable. When the state is divided—encompassing regions like Purvanchal, Madhyanchal, Bundelkhand, and Harit Pradesh—if you look at the area where we are currently seated, starting from Ambedkar Nagar, the Rajbhar community holds the largest vote share across the entire Purvanchal region”
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“Therefore, for any party entering into an alliance, it will be a predetermined condition that the Chief Minister of the future Purvanchal state will be from the Rajbhar community”
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Sources
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