Will Maha BJP govt survive if it thinks of Vidarbha, asks Sena

Amplifying its opposition to any move aimed at carving out Vidarbha from Maharashtra, Shiv Sena today questioned if the BJP-led government in state would survive if separate statehood was even thought of.
"...Why is the BJP thinking of bringing this misfortune to Maharashtra? Will your government survive if you think of a separate statehood for Vidarbha?" senior Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut told reporters here.
Earlier in the day, Sena, a junior ally in the BJP-led dispensations at Centre and in Maharashtra, tried to corner government on the issue in the Legislative Assembly and asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to clarify his government's stand.

Raut said, "the Chief Minister is from Vidharbha, half of the Cabinet is from Vidharbha...Then why you want separate Vidharbha?..For the last 60 years, the Sena has pinned people to the mat."
Sena, a staunch votary of united Maharashtra, has renewed its aggression in the wake of a BJP MP moving a resolution in the Lok Sabha last week seeking formation of Vidarbha state.
Meanwhile, a senior Sena leader said the issue of separate Vidarbha is purposefully brought on the anvil with an aim to divert attention from the allegations of corruption levelled against some BJP ministers.
Taking a dig at Fadnavis, Yuva Sena president Aditya Thackeray in a series of tweets said, "a bill on division of Maharashtra by someone who is part of the government both at Centre-State, doubts the capacity of Governments to govern well.

"The people of the state gave this government its strength to rule for development of all regions equally, not to dissect the state. I hope the Chief Minister reassures the people of this State that elected his government, on the unity of Maharashtra for development.