In a bid to suit the political game plan of the Congress, the Centre plans to add two more districts — Anantapur and Kurnool — to the proposed Telangana State. According to sources, this decision to redraw Telangana’s boundary was taken after the recent Congress Core Committee meeting.
Telangana may be renamed as Rayala-Telangana as it would accommodate two districts from Rayalaseema region. Andhra Pradesh and the new State will have 21 lok Sabha seats each. The Cabinet is expected to approve this crucial decision on Wednesday. This would set aside 12 districts for the new State in order to neutralise the expected political setback for the Congress in the Seemandhra region.
TRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao and YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy have slammed the Centre’s move. The Congress’ last minute plan has also invited the wrath of pro-Telangana leaders. Telangana Rashtra Samithi and the BJP, the two strong votaries of Telangana State have also made it clear that Rayala-Telangana was not acceptable to them.
While most of the Congress leaders from Telangana region were maintaining an enigmatic silence, a former Minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir dismissed the reports as mere rumour and said the Union Government will form Telangana State with just ten districts and with Hyderabad as its Capital. Similarly, several important leaders from Rayalaseema region, including Rayalaseema Parirakshana Samithi leader Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy and Minister TG Venkatesh have also strongly opposed the idea.
“Bringing up the Rayala-Telangana issue is only to water down the Samaikyandhra (united Andhra) agitation as the Congress and TDP put together are unable to face YS Jagan Mohan Reddy politically. This conspiracy will not stand as people can see through the dubious designs of divide-and-rule and we condemn it,” said YSR Congress party deputy floor leader Shobha Nagi Reddy
“Instead of solving one problem, the Centre is trying to create more problems and complicate the issue and the Centre has no right to divide Rayalaseema. No one has asked for it and there was no demand for such a meaningless division,” she said. In New Delhi, Kodanda Ram said that at no cost would Rayala-Telangana be acceptable to the people of Telangana as they want a State of their own and not something new.
The BJP, without whose support the State Reorganisation Bill cannot be passed in Parliament, has also made it clear that it will oppose Rayala- Telangana tooth and nail and it was not in favor of dividing Rayalaseema region into two. “We will not support the Bill if it is aimed at creating Rayala-Telangana,” the State BJP president G Kishan Reddy made it clear.
TRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao is also arriving in Delhi to exert pressure on the Center against the idea of Rayala- Telangana. Senior TRS leader E Rajender said that the party will not accept either Rayala-Telangana or any change in the status of Hyderabad city. “We want Telangana State with ten districts and Hyderabad as its Capital,” he said.