In the backdrop of a decision on a separate Telangana state, Sharad Pawar-led NCP today said it fully supports formation of Vidarbha if the people of the region want it to be carved out of Maharashtra.
"NCP fully supports Vidarbha if people are keen to have it....If people want, we will support it", party Vice-President and Union Minister Praful Patel told reporters. NCP is a partner in Congress-led coalition in Maharashtra as also at the Centre.
Replying to questions, he said having a second State Reorganisation Commission was "not a bad idea" as it would look into various demands for formation of smaller states.
At the same time, Patel, who represents Bhandara-Gondiya constitiency of Vidarbha in Lok Sabha, dismissed suggestions that the region has not developed.
Congress MP Vijay Darda has also demanded a separate Vidarbha saying the region would not be "liberated from the debilitating grip of backwardness" if it doesn't get freedom.
In a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Darda said "the complete inability of the state government to end the series of farmers' suicides in the wake of agrarian crisis could be said to be the final nail in the coffin.
