The Karnataka-Maharashtra border row
- The border town of Belagavi has been a part of Karnataka since boundaries were demarcated along linguistic lines under theStates ReorganisationAct, 1956.
- But the inter-State border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra erupts every now and then.
Claims of the two States
- Boundary dispute between the two States: dates back to the reorganisation of States along linguistic lines.
- Demand for realignment of Maharashtra's border with Karnataka, 1957: invoked Section 21 (2)(b) of the Act, submitting a memorandum to the Centre stating its objection to Marathi-speaking areas being included in Karnataka.
- Karnataka’s claim over Belagavi: Cited the demarcation done on linguistic lines as per the Act and the 1967 Mahajan Commission Report.
- Also argued for the inclusion of areas: in Kolhapur, Sholapur and Sangli districts (falling under Maharashtra) in its territory.
Terms of the Mahajan Commission
- Established by: the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1966 at Maharashtra’s insistence
- Composition: a one-man commission led by Mehr Chand Mahajan
- Recommendation: 264 villages be transferred to Maharashtra and Belagavi (Belgaum) and 247 villages remain with Karnataka.
- States’ reaction: Maharashtra rejected the report, while Karnataka welcomed it.