Kurnool, Tirupati in race for capital

Hyderabad: Ahead of the Union government constituting a committee to decide on the new capital for the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh, leaders from Rayalaseema have raised pitch for locating the capital in the region.

Speaking to the media, Minor Irrigation Minister T G Venkatesh said that there need not be any kind of bad blood between Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra people on the issue. He said the issue of a new capital should be resolved in a peaceful manner. Rayalaseema comprises districts of Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantapur.

Venkatesh is pitching for Kurnool as the new capital. He said Kurnool is the original capital of Andhra Pradesh when it was formed and was sacrificed when Telangana was merged with Andhra State. Now that the de-merger has taken place, Kurnool should be declared as the capital of the residual state and all should work for overall development of Andhra Pradesh. He said that if the Coastal Andhra people feel that the capital should be located in their region, then there could be two capitals to satisfy both the regions.

Meanwhile, Byreddy Rajasekhara Reddy, a former TDP MLA who heads an outfit which champions the cause of Rayalaseema, also demanded that Kurnool be made the new capital.

Congress MP from Tirupati, Chinta Mohan, wants the famous temple town as the new capital.