Patki, who is here to attend the proposed two-week winter session of the State Legislature, said he would discuss the issue with other Opposition leaders and if they agreed, he would initiate an unofficial resolution on it for discussion and consideration in the coming session. The Manohar Joshi Government, he alleged, had failed to remove the developmental backlogs of Vidarbha region during its four-year tenure. ``The government's announcements on development of the backward region have became a laughing stock,'' he said, adding he and his supporters would "expose the government" on the issue during the session.

Patki has initiated as many as 14 private Bills, including the Maharashtra Right to Information Bill, 1998 and the MaharashtraEmployment Guarantee (Amendment) Bill, 1998, which may be brought in the winter session of the Legislature. He said if the Opposition initiated an unofficial resolution for a separate Vidarbha state, it would ensure that such a resolution was passed in both Houses. Barring the Shiv Sena, almost all the political parties have expressed their support for the formation of a separate Vidarbha.

Patki also demanded that the status of Nagpur city be upgraded immediately. ``The city is the second capital of Maharashtra but only on paper. All the facilities of a state capital should be extended to Nagpur city immediately,'' he said, suggesting that a permanent Secretariat be set up in Nagpur. He proposed the shifting of the Forest, Environment, Energy and Urban Development departments from Mantralaya in Mumbai to Nagpur for smoother functioning and thus "do justice to the second capital."

A Rajdhani Express train from Nagpur to the Union Capital should also be started, a benefit given to all state capitals in thecountry, Patki added.The Opposition would also raise other issues like the plight of the cotton growers in Maharashtra which led to a series of suicides by farmers, he said.He also demanded a CBI enquiry into the alleged corruption charges against Maharashtra Minister for Social Welfare Babanrao Gholap for "misappropriation of Central funds meant for powerloom cooperative societies in the State. The issue was raised by the Gandhian Anna Hazare who recently wrote to Governor P C Alexander urging an investigation.