Bengaluru, Nov. 27 -- Former deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Govind Karjol criticised Kagwad MLA Raju Kage for demanding the secession of North Karnataka into a separate state, saying the legislator's call reflected a poor grasp of the state's history.

Karjol, an MP from Chitradurga, said Karnataka, earlier known as "Mysore State" was built through years of struggle and sacrifice.

"One of my family members was also jailed for struggling for the formation of Akhanda Karnataka. BJP will never support the demand of splitting the state," he said. He argued that concerns about uneven development must be raised with the government rather than used as grounds to divide Karnataka.

"If someone feels that their region is neglected, t...