The ongoing agitation for separate Vidarbha state will be intensified further by launching a mass contact programme and a 'Jail Bharo' agitation from February 8-22, the Vidarbha Rajya Sangram Samiti (VRSS) announced in Nagpur on February 2.

The 'Jail Bharo' agitation will be on February 22, the samiti said.

"As part of intensified agitation, pro-Vidarbha leaders will resort to mass contact tour programmes, led by Nagpur MP Vilas Muttemwar from Aamgaon in (Gondia district) on February 8 and hold a public meeting on February 11 at Shegaon," Bharatiya Republican Party Bahujan Samaj president, Prakash Ambedkar told reporters, here today.

A meeting of all top leaders from various political parties was convened at Ravi Bhawan on February 2 and it was attended by, Muttemwar, Ambedkar, Wardha Congress MP Datta Meghe, former MPs-Banwarilal Purohit (BJP), Jambuwantrao Dhote, Balkrishna Wasnik (Cong), Davendra Phadanvis (BJP MLA), Wamanrao Chatap (Shetkari Sanghatana) were prominent among those present.

Muttemwar said after holding public meeting in western Vidarbha at Shegaon on February 11, another public meeting will be held at Chitnis Park Stadium here on January 20 and the jail bharo agitation on February 22.

Ambedkar said Muttemwar and Phadanvis will lead the mass contact tour programme. Samiti has sought meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi over separate Vidarbha demand. "We are still awaiting a positive response," Muttemwar, who wrote letters to both of them, said.

Pro-Vidarbha leaders reiterated their commitment of peaceful agitation throughout their programme. Purohit and others have already toured Akola and other places as part of preparations for second phase of agitation, he informed.

The Vidarbha bandh, called by all political parties in the region, barring Shiv Sena, met with a huge success, Muttemwar claimed.