File photo of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. (Press Trust of India)
Without committing to a definite time-frame, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said a decision on creating a separate Vidarbha state will be taken at the "right time".
Fadnavis, a strong votary of Vidarbha, said BJP was "principally" in favour of smaller states.
"As far as the question of smaller states is concerned, our party supports it. And when to form a smaller state, it is the prerogative of our central party. And legally speaking, it is the prerogative of Parliament.
"Whenever the central government and our central party think it is the right time, that time they will take the decision," Fadnavis said at an event in Delhi.
The BJP is in coalition with the Shiv Sena, which is, principally, in favour of a united Maharashtra. Of the 122 seats won by the BJP in the state assembly elections, Vidarbha alone has helped bag 44 of the 62 seats.
When asked whether it will certainly be formed, Maharashtra Chief Minister said, "Definitely. It will be formed at the right time. Our central party will decide on this at the right time."
Asked whether he would like to be the Chief Minister of Vidarbha or Maharashtra, he merely said that he was at present the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
On a question about his equation with Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray, Fadnavis termed the latter as his "brother" and a valued partner.
"Uddhav Thackeray is with us in our coalition. We have a relationship with Shiv Sena for 25 years. It is true that we had to fight the elections separately for some reasons. We have come back together. I see Uddhav as my brother and a valued partner," he said.
Asked how BJP convinced the Sena, Fadnavis said, "The relationship which we have for 25 years, in that relationship coming together is easy. A path always comes out through difficulties."