In the Akkalkot district of Solapur, 11 villages had issued resolutions calling for a union with Karnataka. The Maharashtra government sent show-cause letters to the communities, requesting an explanation. The Maharashtra government has sent notices to 11 villages in Akkalkot district in Solapur asking them to explain why they passed a resolution seeking a merger with Karnataka, in light of the fact that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to meet with the chief ministers of Karnataka and Maharashtra on Wednesday regarding the recent flare-up of the decades-old border dispute between the two states.

Ten of the eleven villages have already informed the state government that they have revoked their resolutions and want to remain part of Maharashtra. “In the last few days, we had issued show-cause notices to 11 gram panchayats in Akkalkot taluka who had passed a resolution seeking a merger with Karnataka. The notices were issued since the gram panchayats had indulged in anti-Maharashtra activities,” The Indian Express was informed on Wednesday by block development officer Sachin Khude.

“The show-cause notice mentioned that the government provides basic amenities, and asked why the gram panchayats, instead of creating awareness about them as per government guidelines, passed such a resolution,” Khude added. By Tuesday, 10-gramme panchayats had responded, according to Khude. “Of the 11 gram panchayats, 10 have said that they have cancelled their resolutions and want to stay with Maharashtra. As for the 11th gram panchayat, we are told that the sarpanch is out of the station,” stated Khude.

However, according to MLA for Akkalkot Sachin Kalyanshetti, all 11-gram panchayats have withdrawn their resolutions. “I have been holding meetings with them. Even yesterday, I held a meeting with them and gave them details about the projects and works being implemented in their respective villages. At the meeting, there was not a single sarpanch who raised any dispute. They have all agreed to withdraw the resolution and convey it to the government,” Kalyanshetti stated.

One of the 11 panchayats that wished to join Karnataka, Mantus Hature, the sarpanch of Aglaegaon, said, “As per my information, 10-gram panchayats have already taken back their resolution. However, we are still consulting our advocate and finalising our response. The gram panchayats apparently took back their resolution because the government told them that their gram panchayat would be dissolved.”

Hature stated: “had failed to provide basic amenities like good roads, water, electricity and health facilities.” Kalyanshetti said, “Someone apparently told the sarpanches that if they pass such a resolution, the state government will announce a financial package for their areas as well since it had done so for Jat taluka…I have explained to them the reason for the delay in implementing the development works and now all of them are satisfied,” he stated.