The long-standing border Maharashtra Karnataka Border Dispute has resurfaced following a violent incident in Belagavi, where a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus conductor was allegedly assaulted for not speaking Marathi. This latest episode in the decades-old conflict has led to the suspension of interstate bus services between the two states.

Origins of the Maharashtra Karnataka Border Dispute

Maharashtra Karnataka Border Dispute dates back to the linguistic reorganization of Indian states in 1956. Before independence, Belagavi (then Belgaum) was part of the Bombay Presidency and had a multilingual population. In 1948, the Belgaum municipality requested a merger with Maharashtra, citing a predominantly Marathi-speaking population.

To address such territorial disputes, the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 was enacted, redrawing state boundaries based on linguistic demographics. The States Reorganisation Commission (SRC), led by Justice Fazal Ali, recommended that Belagavi and surrounding areas be integrated into Karnataka (then Mysore State), considering factors like administrative efficiency, economic links, and linguistic composition.

Despite this, Maharashtra has continuously contested Karnataka’s claim over Belagavi and several other Marathi-speaking regions.

The Mahajan Commission Report

In 1966, the Mahajan Commission, chaired by former Chief Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan, was established to resolve the dispute. The commission’s report, submitted in 1967, recommended:

  • That Belgaum city and 247 surrounding villages remain within Karnataka.
  • That 264 villages, including Nippani, Khanapur, and Nandagad, be transferred to Maharashtra.

While Karnataka accepted the report, Maharashtra rejected it, calling it biased and illogical. The dispute remained unresolved, fueling political and legal battles over the years.

Legal and Political Battles

The issue took a legal turn in 2004 when Maharashtra filed a petition in the Supreme Court, challenging Karnataka’s control over the region. The case remains pending, but Maharashtra has continued to assert its claim, passing a unanimous resolution in its Legislative Assembly in 2022, demanding control over Belagavi and other Marathi-speaking areas in Karnataka.

Maharashtra has also supported pro-Marathi organizations like the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES), which campaigns for Belagavi’s merger with Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Karnataka has strengthened its claim by frequently holding legislative sessions in Belagavi and dissolving the Belagavi City Corporation whenever it passed resolutions favoring Maharashtra.

In 2022, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde further escalated tensions by announcing welfare schemes for freedom fighters in Belagavi and other Marathi-speaking regions in Karnataka. In response, Karnataka’s then Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced grants for Kannada schools in Maharashtra.

The Latest Flashpoint

The most recent trigger occurred on February 21, 2025, when a KSRTC bus conductor in Belagavi was allegedly attacked for not speaking Marathi. The incident began when a 17-year-old girl and her companion demanded that the conductor speak in Marathi. When he expressed his inability to do so, tensions escalated, and a crowd assaulted him. Four individuals, including the girl, were detained.

In retaliation, pro-Kannada activists targeted Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses. In Chitradurga, Karnataka, activists stopped an MSRTC bus, defaced it, and blackened the driver’s face while chanting slogans.

As a result of these tensions, interstate bus services between Maharashtra and Karnataka remain suspended for the second consecutive day as of February 24.

Conclusion

The Maharashtra Karnataka border dispute remains one of the most contentious linguistic and territorial conflicts in India. Despite multiple commissions, legal interventions, and political maneuvers, no resolution has been reached. The recent violence underscores the deep-seated tensions, highlighting the urgent need for a diplomatic and legal resolution to prevent further unrest.

A lot of Recent Fights over language supermacy. Now its Leading to State Vs State Issue. Which can create a big scene in Upcoming days in both States. Politicians are enjoying the scenario over it rather than solving it out. I hope it will end asap in the statehood. This was whole Maharashtra Karnataka Border Dispute. Check for more Bangalore News 

 

Source by The Business Standred