The growing demand for the division of Maharashtra has got an unexpected boost from the RSS. RSS ideologue M G Vaidya on Wednesday supported former Maharashtra advocate general Srihari Aney's view on the state's division. Vaidya said Maharashtra could be divided into four states for better administration.

"A new state reorganisation commission should be formed that should be looking to fulfil two conditions. First, a state's population should not be more than 30 million and second, it should not be less than 5 million," Vaidya added.

"If we consider the formula, four states can be carved out of Maharashtra. The present conditions are not suitable for administrative purposes. Even RSS has four 'praant' (provinces) in Maharashtra, while it has six in Uttar Pradesh for administrative purposes," he added.

Vaidya said if Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis seeks his opinion, he will convey his views to him.