Advocate General of Maharashtra Shrihari Aney, who handed in his resignation on March 22 following criticism for supporting statehood for Marathwada, said on Saturday that said there should be a referendum on the demand for a separate state of Vidarbha. Even if the entire Maharashtra Legislative Assembly opposes the demand, the Parliament in Delhi can create a separate state of Vidarbha, he said, adding that they will “drop the issue forever” if less than 51% of voters support the demand, PTI reported.

Speaking at a public gathering in Nagpur, Aney said supporters of statehood for Vidarbha will approach Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to garner favour for the cause. The Indian Express reported that with support from these parties and others, they aim to create a “pressure lobby” to push for statehood for Vidarbha. Aney also claimed that Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who was the public works department minister of Maharashtra, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis favoured a separate state of Vidarbha, as well.

The advocate general is set to attend a sit-in organised by pro-Vidarbha groups in Delhi on March 31. Moreover, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is known to have close relations with Aney, has not accepted his resignation yet. Aney defended his decision to hand in his papers saying he feared the Budget Session of the legislature would have been disrupted over the issue.