Maharashtra Reconstitutes Border‑Dispute Committee with Karnataka – What It Means for 814 Villages

By subham Malakar, Special Correspondent
Updated: June 20, 2025, 23:10 IST

Key Highlights

• What happened: On June 19, 2025, the Maharashtra government issued a Government Resolution (GR) reconstituting its high‑powered committee to negotiate the decades‑old border dispute with Karnataka. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
• Who’s on the panel: Led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, with Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, former CMs Prithviraj Chavan and Sharad Pawar, and a cross‑section of ministers, MPs, and MLAs. timesofindia.indiatimes.comptinews.com
• Why it matters: The dispute affects nearly 865 villages (of which 814 are predominantly Marathi‑speaking) along the 7,000 km² border, impacting over 2 million residents.

1. Context & Timeliness

The Maharashtra‑Karnataka border dispute dates back to the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. Despite the Mahajan Commission’s 1966 recommendations, sovereignty over key areas remains unsettled. With fresh state governments in both Mumbai and Bengaluru, the timing is critical:

• First committee formed: May 26, 2014, under CM Devendra Fadnavis.
• Subsequent reconstitutions: May 2, 2020 (Uddhav Thackeray), June 30, 2022 (Eknath Shinde), November 2022 (post‑Shinde).
• Latest move: June 19, 2025 – signals renewed political will ahead of state assembly by‑elections. timesofindia.indiatimes.com

2. Committee Composition & Mandate

Chair: CM Devendra Fadnavis (BJP)
Members include:

• Ajit Pawar (Deputy CM, NCP‑SP)
• Eknath Shinde (Deputy CM, Shiv Sena)
• Sharad Pawar (NCP‑SP)
• Prithviraj Chavan (Congress)
• Narayan Rane (BJP MP)
• Sachin Ahir, Chandrakant Patil, Shambhuraje Desai, Prakash Abitkar, Rohit R. Patil, Jayant Patil, Ambadas Danve, Rajesh Kshirsagar (State Planning Commission).

Mandate:

1. Negotiate with Karnataka’s panel through dialogue and consensus.
2. Prepare fresh legal briefs for Supreme Court litigation (Docket No. SC/___/2025).
3. Oversee local‑level outreach in affected villages.

3. Expert Analysis

“This reconstitution is less about administrative reshuffle and more a strategic move to consolidate Marathi‑speaking constituencies ahead of upcoming polls,” says Dr. Sunil Deshpande, Professor of Political Science at IIT Bombay (15 years’ experience in federal studies) Profile.

Dr. Deshpande adds, “By including cross‑party heavyweights, Maharashtra projects a united front—critical when you appeal to the Supreme Court and centre.”

4. What Happens Next?

• June–July 2025: Inaugural meeting, set timelines for village‑level surveys.
• Q3 2025: Karnataka to respond with its joint panel’s feedback (as per December 2022 Amit Shah‑brokered accord).
• Q4 2025: Possible joint statements or fresh Supreme Court petitions.

5. Fact‑Check

• Claim: “This is the first time Sharad Pawar is on the committee.”
  • Verdict: False. Sharad Pawar served on the 2020 committee under CM Uddhav Thackeray.
• Claim: “All disputed villages will be immediately merged.”
  • Verdict: Misleading. The committee only advises; any merger requires Supreme Court approval and Parliament amendment.

6. How to Follow This Story

• Subscribe to our Google Discover feed for real‑time alerts on Maharashtra‑Karnataka developments.
• Bookmark our “Border Row Daily Digest” page, updated every morning at 8 AM IST.