MLAs lock horns over new district in Anantapur

Anantapur: The demand for bifurcation of the large district with 63 mandals had been decades old but the latest policy decision of the YSRCP to double the number of districts into 27 districts has given wings to the local people's demand to bifurcate the district into Anantapur and Hindupur districts.

Despite the demand for bifurcation of the district, TDP as a party did not take any view on the same. But with YSRCP policy decision, new hope was kindled on this front. Until recently everyone thought Hindupur will be the automatic choice because of its proximity to Benguluru international airport but with the YSRCP storming to power and promising to make every Parliamentary constituency a district, Penukonda MLA and Minister for Roads and Buildings M Sankara Narayana and Puttaparthi MLA Sridhar are locking horns over the issue and are using their sphere of influences to convince the Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy by showcasing their strong points.

Penukonda Zilla Sadana Samithi and Sathya Sai Zilla Sadana Samithi had been formed in the two Assembly constituencies to agitate and demand and showcase their respective towns as prospective headquarters for the new district in the making. Penukonda committee has the support of Minister Sankara Narayana while the Sathya Sai Zilla committee has the support of local MLA Sridhar as well as Congress and other political parties.

Speaking to The Hans India, Puttaparthi MLA Sridhar said that he had made a strong case before the chief minister that Puttaparthi has many merits to be made as the new district headquarters. Puttaparthi is already an internationally famous town having an international airport and having the support of the strong Sathya Sai Trust.

It has buildings and other infrastructure with a beautiful landscape. So, we hope Puttaparthi will be zeroed in for building a new headquarter for the new district in the making, he added. When suggested that Minister Sankara Narayana seemed to be winning in his battle, Sridhar quipped 'God is there.'

When Hindupur as the natural choice was making rounds, Minister Sankara Narayana floated the idea that Penukonda is the ideal town as it is in-between Hindupur and Puttaparthi. He first saw to it that Hindupur is deleted from the mind of the government on political grounds as the constituency always stood for the yellow party and that there is no point in promoting it as it will be politically suicidal for the YSRCP and so he propped up the demand that Penukonda, the ancient second capital of emperor Sri Krishnadeva Raya should be the new district headquarter.

The minister strategically was pulling all strings to realise his dream. Using his clout with the chief minister, he managed to divert the medical college proposed at Hindupur first to Penukonda. He gave an impression that after all medical colleges are set up only in district headquarters. With the emergence of Kia Motors in Penukonda, a new facelift was given to the town.

Hundreds of industries are now making a beeline to the region. Almost everyone now thinks that Penukonda not Puttaparthi will be the choice of the government. Real estate values are shooting up there. All said and done Penukonda is emerging as the new developing region.

No wonder Hindupur MLA N Balakrishna is maintaining a low profile knowing fully well that his writ no longer runs even in his own constituency. YSRCP sources say that it is a matter of 2-3 months when the new district be it Penukonda or Puttaparthi would come into being.