Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said his government has not received any proposal for creation of a separate Vidarbha state, reported PTI. "There's no such proposal [for a separate Vidarbha state]. Carving out small states is a subject handled by the Centre," Fadnavis told the state Assembly.

The chief minister's comments came as a reply to protests from the Opposition who are against breaking up of the state. While Shiv Sena legislator Prakash Abitkar asked Fadnavis to clarify his government's stand, leader of Opposition and Indian National Congress member Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said the ruling party is in cahoots with the Sena leaders regarding the issue, even as member of the right-wing party held protests outside the Assembly building against the proposal in question. "BJP has insulted people of Maharashtra by making and backing demand for separate Vidarbha," Patil said.