Will Uttar Pradesh Be Divided Into 4 States?

Uttar Pradesh may be divided into four states, according to minister Om Prakash Rajbhar. However, there is no official decision from the Central government yet.

Uttar Pradesh May Be Divided Into 4 States: What We Know

Uttar Pradesh is one of India’s largest states, covering about 2.43 lakh square kilometres and home to more than 24 crore people. Because of its size and population, there have been demands to divide the state into smaller states.

What Did Om Prakash Rajbhar Say?

On 20 September 2026, Uttar Pradesh minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar said that Uttar Pradesh could be divided into four states:

  • Purvanchal – Eastern Uttar Pradesh
  • Madhyanchal – Central Uttar Pradesh
  • Bundelkhand – Southern Uttar Pradesh
  • Harit Pradesh – Western Uttar Pradesh

Rajbhar also said that if Purvanchal becomes a separate state, a person from the Rajbhar community could become its Chief Minister.

He claimed that he had discussed the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who told him that the division could happen after a caste census. However, this is Rajbhar’s claim. There is currently no official announcement from the Central government to divide Uttar Pradesh.

What Are Other Leaders Saying?

The idea has received different reactions.

BJP leader Sanjeev Balyan has supported dividing Uttar Pradesh, saying it could improve administration and development. However, Uttar Pradesh minister and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad has opposed the idea. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has also opposed it.

Has Uttar Pradesh Been Proposed for Division Before?

The idea is not new.

In his 1955 book Thoughts on Linguistic States, Dr B.R. Ambedkar proposed dividing Uttar Pradesh into three states, with Meerut, Kanpur and Allahabad as their capitals.

The issue came up again in 2000 when Uttarakhand was separated from Uttar Pradesh under the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000.

In 2008, then Chief Minister Mayawati proposed dividing Uttar Pradesh into three states. In 2011, her government passed a resolution proposing four states: Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, Awadh Pradesh and Paschim Pradesh. However, the proposal did not become law.

Under Article 3 of the Indian Constitution, Parliament has the power to create new states or change the boundaries of existing states.

What Happens Next?

The demand to divide Uttar Pradesh has returned to political discussions ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. For now, however, Uttar Pradesh remains one state, and there is no official decision to divide it into four states.

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