Patna:
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today came out in support of his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Mayawati's stand to carve out four new states.
''We are, in principle, in favour of formation of smaller states...We have been a votary of smaller states for fostering a new era of development...However, it is a matter between the Uttar Pradesh government and the Centre,'' he told reporters here before leaving for Muzaffarpur for the second leg of his Seva Yatra.
Bihar too was divided in 2000 when Jharkhand was carved out of it. The demand for formation of Telangana was already there, besides those for bifurcation of a few more states including Maharashtra, the Chief Minister said.
Before 2000, when Jharkhand was created, the population of Uttar Pradesh was two-and-a-half times more than that of undivided Bihar. Now, the population of UP is more than double that of Bihar.
Yesterday, Mayawati had announced that the government would bring a resolution in the House in the winter session beginning next week for carving out four new states from Uttar Pradesh.
The state's cabinet had already approved a resolution for the creation of Poorvanchal, Bundelkhand, Awadh Pradesh and Paschim Pradesh.