Maharashtra Reconstitutes High-Powered Committee on Border Dispute with Karnataka
The Maharashtra government has reconstituted its high-powered committee to address the long-standing border dispute with Karnataka. Headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the 18-member committee includes deputy CMs and former CMs. The move aims to facilitate consensus-based decisions on the issue, which dates back to the 1957 linguistic reorganization of states, concerning Belagavi and over 800 Marathi-speaking villages currently part of Karnataka.
Unpacked:
Maharashtra claims Belagavi and over 800 neighboring villages based on their significant Marathi-speaking populations. The state argues that these areas share closer linguistic and cultural ties with Maharashtra, stemming from the 1956 States Reorganisation Act that reorganized boundaries primarily on linguistic lines.
Karnataka has consistently refused to part with Belagavi and the disputed villages, maintaining that these territories rightfully belong to Karnataka. The state supports the findings of commissions that favored its position and emphasizes administrative and economic integration with Karnataka.
The Mahajan Commission, established in 1966 by the central government, recommended that Belagavi city and 247 villages remain with Karnataka, while 264 villages be transferred to Maharashtra. Maharashtra rejected the report as biased, but Karnataka accepted it.
Yes, the dispute has recently reignited following violent incidents, including attacks on vehicles from both states and a bus conductor in Belagavi. These events have heightened tensions and led to disruptions such as the suspension of bus services between Maharashtra and Karnataka.