Plea for Greater Rayalaseema

Delegation led by Kotla also meets Sonia and puts forward two proposals

New Delhi: The Rayalaseema Congress leaders led by Union Minister for Railways Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy favouring Greater Rayalseema or alternatively Rayala-Telangana. Clearly, there is reconciliation to the idea of creation of Telangana. Now the Seemandhra leaders are looking at the alternatives before them.

Led by Minister of State for Railways Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy, MLAs Erasu Pratap Reddy and Labbi Venkatswami, and MP S P Y Reddy met Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Significantly, Rayala-Telangana is among the proposals still under consideration and it could be considered at the stage of the committee to be set up by the Centre. Not all Seemandhra leaders now seem to be united on the issue. There is division in their ranks. They are moving in like-minded batches.

One batch is actively considering Rayala-Telangana and only as an alternative asking for Greater Rayalaseema with the four Rayalaseema districts of Kurnool, Anantapur, Chittoor and Kadapa and Prakasham and Nellore added on. However, Suryaprakash Reddy denied that he had suggested Rayala Telangana as alternative, He said that he had pleaded for United Andhra only.

The Telangana Congress leaders, met at the residence of Union Science & Technology Minister S Jaipal Reddy. The Telangana Congress leaders do not want to take any chances and want the bifurcation process to go on smoothly. The Telangana Congress leaders are keen to keep up the pressure on the Congress High Command to ensure that there are no roadblocks on the path of achieving Telangana.