Rayalaseema parties unable to cope with Nandyal verdict

Kurnool: The Nandyal poll verdict is shattering the political fortunes of leaders in the Rayalaseema region. While YSRC is deeply shocked over the result and mulling several programmes to attract voters, the Rayalaseema Parirakshana Samithi, a regional party is facing extinction.

The Rayalaseema Parirakshana Samithi is rethinking whether to continue its agitation for the development of Rayalaseema. A debate has started among rights activists and the common man as to what would happen to their future if leaders who whip up passions and silently bury the movement.

Rayalaseema Parirakshana Samithi appealed to Mr Modi requesting him to introduce a Bill in the monsoon session of Parliament for carving out a separate state. "Rayalaseema at present comprises Chittoor, Kadapa, Anantapur and Kurnool districts. Apart from these, we want the new state to have Nellore and Prakasam of Andhra Pradesh, Vellore and Krishnagiri of Tamil Nadu and Kolar, Raichur and Ballari districts of Karnataka," RPS demanded. He said that the conditions were no better in the districts of the neighbouring states that shared borders with this region. "The Telugu speaking people who comprise 60 per cent of the total population in the bordering districts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are an aggrieved lot as they are thoroughly discriminated on linguistic basis," he explained, referring to Article 350-A that envisaged protection of the rights of linguistic minorities.

MV Ramana Reddy, a veteran activist who has been fighting for the cause of Rayalaseema since early 1980s told this newspaper that the region needs to be provided with schemes and projects for balanced regional development. There are issues with regard to employment, irrigation where there is a great disparity compared to fast moving coastal districts.

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee President N. Raghuveera Reddy called for an urgent need to focus on the pending issues of Rayalaseema. He accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for concentrating only on Amaravati.
He said, "Naidu is repeating the same mistake as he did with Hyderabad. In unified AP, he developed only Hyderabad. Post bifurcation, he is only focused on Amaravati. He said that the Sri Krishna Committee specially laid stress on developing Rayalaseema. He said unless the ruling party shifts its focus, Rayalaseema would continue to bleed.

Bojja Dasarath Reddy, Convener, Saguneeti Sadhana Samith in Rayalaseema said that people always rally with issues rather than leaders. What Nandyal showed was not a reflection of the inefficiency but the success of mainstream parties who deflected the issue.