Chouhan said his government had sent a proposal for a Rs.2,400 crore package for Bundelkhand region in the state following the visit of a central team to study the impact of drought. But not a single paisa has been given despite the fact that the proposal was prepared in consultation with the centre's study team, he alleged.

Chouhan in his letter informed the prime minister that the Madhya Pradesh government had constituted a Bundelkhand Development Authority in 2007 with Surendra Pratap Singh as chairman and the setting up of a similar body by the centre would only be a duplication.

Housing and Environment Minister Jayant Malaiya, who hails from the same region, told IANS: 'If the central government really wants development of the region, it should directly hand over the funds to both the Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh governments.'

Reacting to the BJP leader's allegation, state Congress president Suresh Pachauri said, 'The chief minister and his colleagues should overcome politics and express gratitude towards the Congress for taking this valuable initiative.'

State Congress leaders appeared upbeat over the move and said, 'It indicates the first step towards creation of a separate state of Bundelkhand' to be carved out of districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

The Bundelkhand region comprises Datia, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Damoh and Sagar districts of Madhya Pradesh and Jhansi, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Banda and Fatehpur districts of Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress supports creation of a separate state of Bundelkhand.