There are demands from different quarters. If the state is trifurcated, Lucknow may lose its political power.
Right now, it's one state and it could become four different states in case of division and each state will still be large enough, nearly 50 million or 5 crore plus.
There could be new emerging state capitals like Varanasi*, Jhansi and Meerut, the capitals of the proposed states.
It may take a couple of more years for these states to come into existence but the growing regional aspirations among people in different regions and the politicians' interests might ultimately lead to creation of new states.
Though UP is difficult to govern [given its size], the counter argument is thrown that certain smaller states have turned out to be failures.
It may take a couple of more years for these states to come into existence but the growing regional aspirations among people in different regions and the politicians' interests might ultimately lead to creation of new states.
Though UP is difficult to govern [given its size], the counter argument is thrown that certain smaller states have turned out to be failures.
As long as Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand were part of greater Madhya Pradesh and greater Bihar, the situation in these regions was not too bad though creation of states definitely brought focus and due to new state capitals, developmental schemes were launched.
Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand had huge mineral deposits and other natural resources, but later become hotbeds of Naxalism*. Corruption has grown by leaps and bounds and insurgency has made development impossible. These arguments aside, the states will ultimately come into existence. Bundelkhand is the most under-developed region in North India.
The historic city of Benares (Varanasi) will be the capital of Purvanchal [UP's Eastern part], that will share its borders with Nepal and Indian states of Bihar and MP. Bundelkhand will be carved out of both UP and Madhya Pradesh with Jhansi as capital.
But the most contentious is the issue of Harit Pradesh. There are 'concerns' that this region of Western Uttar Pradesh (UP) that will have nearly 35% Muslim population, become a 'unique case' in the heart of India.
The fact that the urban Muslim populace in this region is even higher, makes it unpalatable for not just BJP but many other parties also. Jat leader and RLD supremeo Ajit Singh, however, made it an issue, for quite sometime.
Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand had huge mineral deposits and other natural resources, but later become hotbeds of Naxalism*. Corruption has grown by leaps and bounds and insurgency has made development impossible. These arguments aside, the states will ultimately come into existence. Bundelkhand is the most under-developed region in North India.
The historic city of Benares (Varanasi) will be the capital of Purvanchal [UP's Eastern part], that will share its borders with Nepal and Indian states of Bihar and MP. Bundelkhand will be carved out of both UP and Madhya Pradesh with Jhansi as capital.
But the most contentious is the issue of Harit Pradesh. There are 'concerns' that this region of Western Uttar Pradesh (UP) that will have nearly 35% Muslim population, become a 'unique case' in the heart of India.
The fact that the urban Muslim populace in this region is even higher, makes it unpalatable for not just BJP but many other parties also. Jat leader and RLD supremeo Ajit Singh, however, made it an issue, for quite sometime.
UP has already lost Uttarakhand [formerly Uttaranchal] but still Southern states complain about its sheer size that gives a party capturing UP, a much larger clout at the Centre. Compared to UP, the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, united Andhra recorded lesser population growth.
The grouse in South is that their focus on administration, made the society more empowered but as population didn't grow much, they will have to pay as their electoral power will diminish in the next delimitation of constituencies.
The population of Uttar Pradesh is more than most of the countries of the world-- except a few big ones [the names of which can be counted on fingers]. Just China, United States of America, Indonesia and India have higher population.
The Second State Re-organization Commission is about to be instituted. And the long-standing demands of Telangana & Vidarbha can't be ignored either. Future will tell whether the backward regions and people of these areas will get benefited from the formation of new states or it will worsen things.
The Second State Re-organization Commission is about to be instituted. And the long-standing demands of Telangana & Vidarbha can't be ignored either. Future will tell whether the backward regions and people of these areas will get benefited from the formation of new states or it will worsen things.
READ: India's unique state that has a population more than 190 countries
[In 2025, UP has an estimated population of nearly 25.6 crore or 256 million. Photo: Map showing different regions viz. Awadh, Purvanchal, Bundelkhand and Harit Pradesh]
[In 2025, UP has an estimated population of nearly 25.6 crore or 256 million. Photo: Map showing different regions viz. Awadh, Purvanchal, Bundelkhand and Harit Pradesh]
[*Update: Naxalism was a major problem when this article was written but now in 2025, Maoist extremists have got weakened considerably]
[NOTE: The status of Allahabad that falls in this region also remains questionable. Now named Prayagraj, it is also an important city and demand for capital could be raised if a state is carved out]