BJP raised the demand for statehood to Vidarbha region in the Maharashtra Legislature today saying that it was the only way out to overcome years of neglect and backwardness. The party moved an adjournment notice demanding discussion on the issue in both houses which were disallowed by the chair. <br/><br/>BJP staged a walkout in the Assembly while in the Council, heated arguments were witnessed between the party and its ally Shiv Sena which is opposed to formation of Vidarbha state. <br/><br/>In the Assembly, when Speaker Dilip Walse Patil asked BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar as to why the issue should be raised through an adjournment notice, Mungantiwar, said he wanted voting on the matter. He said NCP and members of the Republic Democratic Left Front supported the statehood demand. The BJP members were on their feet raising slogans demanding statehood to the region stating that the Nagpur pact of 1956, through which the region merged with Maharashtra has been violated several times and injustice has been meted out to the people. Mungantiwar said Vidarbha has been lagging behind in the socio-economic sphere with farmers suicide, low employment, huge backlog. <br/><br/>As part of the "jail bharo" agitation called by pro-Vidarbha organisations, BJP legislators also courted arrest in Mumbai. BJP members later staged a walkout in support of their demand. The Legislative Council also witnessed heated discussions on the issue with BJP demanding a special debate and Shiv Sena opposing it. Leader of Opposition in the Council Pandurang Phundkar said that Vidarbha is facing water crisis and 18 hours of load shedding. <br/><br/>The protest for separate Vidarbha has also intensified and the Government should discuss the issue.Council Chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh, while disallowing the adjournment notice, said Congress MLC Manikrao Thakre has already mooted the proposal of discussion on the issue in the last session. <br/><br/>Objecting to the reply, BJP MLC Vinod Tawade said everyone has their own views on Vidarbha and it has to be discussed in the House.<br/>