A new voice for the formation of Purvanchal state arose from Amethi, and the issue of division again heated up in UP politics.
The demand for the division of Uttar Pradesh has once again become the focus of political and social debate. For the past few months, discussions have been raging in western Uttar Pradesh about the creation of Purvanchal and separate states for other regions, but now this voice has reached Amethi. On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, during a Khichdi feast and a get-together at Dadan Sadan in Amethi district, the demand for the creation of Purvanchal was openly voiced from the stage. Thousands of people from the region attended the event, making it clear that this issue is no longer confined to mere political rhetoric.
Statements by leaders and public reaction at the event
Speaking to ABP News, former Union Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dr. Sanjay Singh said that the formation of the Purvanchal state has become the need of the hour. He argued that Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in the country, and it has become extremely difficult to run such a large state effectively with a single administrative structure.
Dr. Singh said, “Uttar Pradesh’s population exceeds that of many countries. When a state’s population equals that of the world’s fifth largest country, both development and democracy are affected. Therefore, the formation of Purvanchal state will increase administrative efficiency and ensure the people’s rights.”
What will be the form of the proposed Purvanchal state?
According to Dr. Sanjay Singh, the proposed Purvanchal state will encompass 28 districts from eight divisions of Uttar Pradesh. These include Varanasi, Chandauli, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia, Prayagraj, Kaushambi, Pratapgarh, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, Bhadohi, Ayodhya, Akbarpur, Sultanpur, Amethi, Gonda, Balrampur, Bahraich, Shravasti, Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Deoria, Kushinagar, Basti, Siddharthnagar, and Sant Kabir Nagar.
He stated that with a population of approximately 79.8 million, this state would be the 14th largest in the country. Dr. Singh claims that if political will is shown, the formation of Purvanchal state is possible even before the 2027 assembly elections.
The campaign will be run from the joint resolution platform
On this occasion, Dr. Sanjay Singh announced the formation of the “Purvanchal State Joint Resolution Forum.” He said that this forum would unite all social and political organizations to advance the demand for the formation of Purvanchal state in an organized and effective manner.
He appealed to the workers, social organizations and intellectuals who have been fighting for Purvanchal state for years to forget their personal differences and come on a common platform so that the formation of Purvanchal state can be made a national issue.
The question of linguistic-cultural identity and administrative neglect
Speaking to ABP News, former minister and BJP leader Dr. Ameeta Singh said that the formation of the Purvanchal state is not merely a matter of administrative convenience, but also linked to the region’s identity and respect. She said that despite Purvanchal’s distinct linguistic and cultural identity, the region has long suffered from administrative neglect.
According to Dr. Amita Singh, despite having fertile land, natural resources, and a hardworking human resource, Purvanchal has lagged behind socially and economically. She believes that the formation of the Purvanchal state will enable policies to be formulated according to the region’s specific needs.
Separate policies are needed for agriculture, industry and education.
Dr. Amita Singh said that due to the lack of the state of Purvanchal, concrete policies for agricultural reform, industrial development, and education could not be formulated. She explained that due to the lack of employment opportunities, there is large-scale migration from Purvanchal.
He also raised questions about the water management of rivers originating in Nepal. He argued that a permanent solution to this region, which faces the double whammy of floods and droughts every year, can only be found by creating a separate state. The formation of Purvanchal State will enable rapid development of healthcare services, higher education institutions, and modern infrastructure.
Energy, minerals and tourism can change the future
Dr. Amita Singh also said that after the formation of Purvanchal state , this region could become a major power generation center in the country. Districts like Mirzapur and Sonbhadra are rich in mineral resources, but even today they are not being properly exploited.
Citing religious centers like Ayodhya, Kashi, and Prayagraj, he said that these, along with Buddhist tourist destinations like Sarnath, Kushinagar, Shravasti, and Kapilvastu, could establish Purvanchal on the global tourism map. The formation of the Purvanchal state could also increase foreign exchange earnings manifold.
“Give us Purvanchal state, we can make India Japan”
Dr. Amita Singh’s emotional appeal impressed the audience. She said, “People from Purvanchal are making their mark in Mumbai, Surat, Ludhiana, Singapore, Dubai, Mauritius, and Silicon Valley for their hard work. Please create the state of Purvanchal . We have the strength and determination to turn India into Japan.”
Uneasiness within BJP, CM Yogi’s old stance
The big question now is whether this demand for the formation of a Purvanchal state will create political difficulties for the Bharatiya Janata Party. It’s worth noting that in the past, when calls for state division have been raised, the BJP’s top leadership has often opposed it.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath himself has publicly rejected the idea of dividing the state. In an interview, he stated that Uttar Pradesh is a state with its own distinct identity and its strength lies in unity. He believes that the goals of development and respect can only be achieved by keeping the state united.
What will happen next?
The demand for the formation of Purvanchal state, raised in Amethi, has made it clear that the issue has now transcended local boundaries. Several prominent figures were present at the event, including former BJP district president Ramprasad Mishra, advocate Umashankar Pandey, former MLA Tejbhan Singh, MLC Shailendra Pratap Singh, BJP leader Chandra Prakash Mishra ‘Matiari’, and RSS district pracharak Pawan Ji.
In the coming times, it will be interesting to see how widespread this campaign for the formation of Purvanchal state becomes and whether it gives a new direction to the politics of the Centre and the State.
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