AP capital row: Govt's 'unilateral decision' irks Rayalaseema

Unilateral decisions by the Telulgu Desam Government on building a new capital has not only evoked a sharp reaction but seems to be igniting separatist feelings in Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh.A senior leader of YSR Congress Party MV Mysoora Reddy strongly criticised the Chandrababu Naidu Government for not taking into account the opinion of other parties about the construction of the new capital.

He alleged that Rayalseema was being neglected not only in the matter of the construction of capital but in all other matters. “Earlier there were three regions Andhra, Telangana and Rayalaseema. Now Telangana has separated. Rayalaseema is being neglected completely”, he said adding that some people had approached him to spearhead a movement for separate Rayalaseema State. When asked about the plans of the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, Mysura Reddy bitterly quipped, “it is their capital, their wish”.

YSRCP, despite being the main opposition party in Andhra Pradesh assembly was not invited to the ground breaking ceremony of the new capital. The show was completely dominated by the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, his family and the ruling Telugu Desam party. YSRCP is a dominant political force in most parts of Rayalaseema, the region to which its president YS Jaganmohan Reddy belongs.

The Opposition has criticised the unilateral decisions of Telugu Desam government at a time when the state cabinet has approved the master plan of the capital prepared by Singapore government. It has decided to lay the foundation stone of the capital on October 22 at the hands of the Prime Minister Narendar Modi. This is not first time that the YSRCP leaders have raised their voices against the neglect of their region by the Telugu Desam Government.