Nagpur, Sept 11: Nationalist Congress Party would support a resolution to carve out separate Vidarbha, if it is brought by the Congress in the Maharashtra Assembly, party's national president Sharad Pawar said today. "We will certainly back the resolution in the assembly provided it is brought by Congress which he described as the bigger party in the Democratic Front coalition government in the state," Pawar told reporters here.
"NCP will go by the sentiments of the people of Vidarbha," he said, adding the party has not yet decided to make Vidarbha the poll plank for the assembly elections in the state due next year. The state's former Chief Minister said the issue would be discussed and taken up when the elections are round the corner.
Pawar said he had conveyed his support on separate Vidarbha to senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee who is heading a panel of his party on smaller states. The same has been conveyed to former Union ministers and veteran leaders N K P Salve and Vasant Sathe who have relaunched the movement of Vidarbha, he added.
On striking a pre-poll alliance with Congress for the forthcoming assembly and general elections, Pawar said he was in favour of coalition of secular forces. His party was in discussion within the fold but no final decision has been taken. Bureau Report