Creation of new states can only take place within constitutional framework: Congress

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Monday maintained that creation of new states can only be considered within the framework of the Indian Constitution, and added that introducing a new element like a referendum, is best avoided.

"I think we need to work within the framework of the Indian Constitution; we have statutes and laws, under those, all demands legitimate, can be considered as they have been considered for other states. But to talk of referendum would be to introduce a new element, and I think, that is best avoided," Singhvi told ANI while reacting to Sharad Pawar's rooting for a referendum on creating a separate state of Vidarbha.

On Sunday, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Pawar reportedly stated that the Election Commission should hold a referendum over the demand for a separate state of Vidarbha out of Maharashtra. "The NCP will respect the separate Vidarbha verdict if a majority vote for it," he said.

At the same time, he clarified that for now his party stood for a unified Maharashtra.