<P> As a result of the States Reorganisation Act on 1 November 1956, the Kannada - speaking districts of Belgaum (except Chandgad taluk), Bijapur, Dharwar, and North Canara were transferred from Bombay State to Mysore State . but the State of Bombay was significantly enlarged, expanding eastward to incorporate the Marathi - speaking Marathwada region of Hyderabad State, the Marathi - speaking Vidarbha region of southern Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarati - speaking Saurashtra and Kutch states . The Bombay state was being referred to by the local inhabitants as "Maha Dwibhashi Rajya", meaning, "the great bilingual state". </P> <P> In 1956, the States Reorganisation Committee, against the will of Jawaharlal Nehru, recommended a bilingual state for Maharashtra - Gujarat with Bombay as its capital, whereas in Lok Sabha discussions in 1955, the Congress party demanded that the city be constituted as an autonomous city - state . In the 1957 elections, the Samyukta Maharashtra movement opposed these proposals, and insisted that Bombay be declared the capital of Maharashtra . </P> <P> Bombay State was finally dissolved with the formation of Maharashtra and Gujarat states on May 1, 1960 . </P> <P> Following protests of Samyukta Maharashtra Movement, in which 105 people were killed by police, Bombay State was reorganised on linguistic lines . Gujarati - speaking areas of Bombay State were partitioned into the state of Gujarat following Mahagujarat Movement . Maharashtra State with Bombay as its capital was formed with the merger of Marathi - speaking areas of Bombay State, eight districts from Central Provinces and Berar, five districts from Hyderabad State, and numerous princely states enclosed between them . </P>

What is the name of maharashtra before 1960