NEW DELHI: Congress on Wednesday said an expert panel should look into the demand for new states across the country, a statement indicating that the party is unlikely to support chief minister Mayawati's proposal for division of Uttar Pradesh.

AICC spokesman Rashid Alvi said, "Not just UP, there are many such demands. Congress does not decide on any one region but takes a national perspective in national interest. So, a states reorganisation commission should be constituted to look into these demands. This is our reaction to what Mayawati has said."

The policy enunciation betrayed the Congress dilemma over redrawing of state boundaries. While the BSP chief is likely to play the trifurcation card with elections in mind, Congress is taking a serious look at jumping on the populist bandwagon in view of its implications for Telangana. A party leader said it would be risky for Congress to vocally back the division of UP when it was stonewalling the division of Andhra Pradesh despite an agitation having paralysed the state for two years.

The dilemma could force Congress to nuance its stand in UP despite having advocated statehood for Bundelkhand and realising that such announcements have resonance with voters. The possibility of UP government sponsoring a bill for division in the assembly has put Congress on guard.

Despite advocating SRC, Alvi was quick to add that Congress would decide its stand in case of UP only when a proposal was put forth in the assembly.

The announcement triggered murmurs on what was to come in case of Telangana as Congress recently said it would declare its stand on the vexed issue after Eid. While Alvi excluded Telangana from the ambit of his push for SRC, many felt the distinction was only proforma to avoid any controversy in the troubled region.

The Telangana issue has been hanging fire for many years but Congress has been unable to take a final decision. UPA announced creation of Telangana in December 2009 but did a volte face under pressure from Andhra Pradesh lobby. Since then, the region is on the boil.