Hyderabad, December 09: In the wake of the intensification of the movement for separate Telangana State, the demand for formation of a Greater Rayalaseema State has come to the fore.
Ruling Congress MLAs and MLCs representing the Rayalaseema region met in the Assembly Committee Hall here today to take stock of the prevailing situation in the Telangana region. A majority of them demanded formation of Greater Rayalaseema State by merging Prakasam and Nellore districts with the existing districts of the region i.e. Kadapa, Anantapur, Kurnool and Chittoor.
Talking to newsmen later, MLC Sivarami Reddy said that the Rayalaseema MLAs and MLCs were hopeful of formation of separate Rayalaseema and Andhra States if statehood was granted to the Telangana region. They would seek special package of about Rs 2 lakh crores from the Centre for development of Rayalaseema.
“We are not ready to see further loss to Rayalaseema region if it is merged with Andhra. Already, the region has remained backward in comparison with the other two regions.
Though differences of opinion are common, people will realise that our argument to seek Greater Rayalaseema State is genuine. We will create awareness among people of the region on the issue. Basically, we are committed to integrated state’’, he clarified.
–Agencies