Union minister Ramdas Athawale has said it was not creditable for Maharashtra that some of its border villages were demanding merger into Karnataka and other neighbouring states, and added that the Eknath Shinde-led dispensation should ensure that they are retained in the state and people there get all the facilities.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at Kalyan in Thane district on Friday, he said he would soon meet chief minister Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis to discuss the issue.